PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - The Garut Regency Government expanded access to maternal and child health services through the inauguration of the Armina Main Clinic, August 22, 2026.

Garut Regent Abdusy Syakur Amin inaugurated the clinic on Jalan Raya Samarang, Cintarakyat Village, Samarang District, to support public health care.

The presence of the clinic is expected to help reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Mortality Rate (MMR/MMR), especially in areas with high cases.

Abdusy Syakur Amin expressed his appreciation to the Armina Main Clinic Supervisor, Dr. Helmi Budiman, for providing additional health facilities for the community.

"Because we still face challenges in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. There's also one area here, I'll call it Sukakarya, where maternal and infant mortality rates are high. So, we hope there will be alternatives for the community to quickly access healthcare," said Abdusy Syakur Amin.

Armina Main Clinic also increased inpatient capacity so that the public has alternative services when other hospitals' capacity is limited.

Dr. Helmi Budiman, the supervisor of Armina's main clinic, said the main clinic can provide various specialist services in accordance with the latest regulations.

The clinic meets the minimum requirements of having two specialist doctors, including a pediatrician who handles child growth and development.

"Here, there are pediatric specialists, especially pediatricians who specialize in how to handle growth and development, because so far, growth and development care in Garut Regency has been mostly referred to Bandung," said Helmi.

Armina Main Clinic provides 18 inpatient beds and is currently in the process of collaborating with the Social Security Administering Agency (BPJS) Health.

"There are two specialists here, as the minimum requirement for this main clinic is two specialists. Inpatient care is available. The Cisanca Clinic has BPJS (Social Security) services. I haven't received permission from BPJS yet, so this isn't BPJS yet because the process to obtain BPJS permission is long. If permission is granted, there will be room for this. There are 18 beds here," he said.

The Head of the Garut Regency Health Office, Dr. Leli Yuliani, said the clinic helps speed up public services in the Sukakarya Community Health Center's work area.

"Because in the Samarang District itself, especially in the Sukakarya Community Health Center's working area, infant mortality is still quite high, so the Armina Clinic has made things easier, very helpful, and expedited services because other hospitals are already full," Leli concluded.

The presence of these facilities is expected to shorten public access to health services while reducing the burden on already overcrowded hospital services.

(Garut Regency Communications and Information Service/bhf)