Press Releases Improving Access to Healthcare, 121 Sukananti Residents Benefit from Free Medical Services

Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, 3 June 2026 – When feeling unwell, some residents of Sukananti Village in Ogan Ilir Regency are not always able to immediately visit a healthcare facility. Long travel distances and limited access often cause residents to delay seeking medical attention until their condition begins to interfere with their daily activities.

To help bring healthcare services closer to the community, the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, in collaboration with PT Bumi Sawit Permai (BSP), a subsidiary of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, organised a free general medical service programme attended by 121 village residents.

From early morning, the village community hall was filled with residents of all ages, from children to the elderly. Some came to seek treatment for health issues they had been experiencing for some time, while others took the opportunity to consult directly with medical personnel regarding various health concerns.

Volunteers from Tzu Chi Xie Li South Sumatra 1 and employees of PT BSP worked together to assist with registration, accompany residents throughout the examination process, and distribute vegetarian meals that had been prepared for participants. While waiting for their turn, participants also received education on early reproductive health awareness and dengue fever prevention.

For many residents, the programme provided a rare opportunity. In addition to receiving free medical examinations, they were able to consult directly with healthcare professionals regarding conditions that had not previously been addressed, while also gaining a better understanding of disease prevention and the importance of maintaining good health.

“This medical assistance means a great deal to us. We truly hope programmes like this can continue, especially those focused on healthcare. Thank you for providing these free medical services,” said Zulkifli, a resident of Sukananti Village.

Not all residents were able to attend the event in person. To ensure that healthcare services reached those most in need, volunteers and medical personnel also conducted home visits for elderly residents and individuals with limited mobility, enabling them to receive medical examinations and health consultations.

Heriyanto, Estate Manager of PT BSP who also participated as a volunteer, said that the strong turnout from residents arriving early in the morning reflected the continued importance of accessible healthcare services for communities in the area.

“The fact that residents arrived from early morning shows that healthcare services like this remain greatly needed. We hope this programme can help people access health examinations at an earlier stage while also raising awareness of the importance of maintaining good health,” he said.

Through this collaboration, the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and PT BSP hope to contribute to improving the quality of life of surrounding communities while expanding access to healthcare services for residents who continue to face challenges in reaching medical facilities. This effort reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to supporting the wellbeing of communities in the areas where they operate.

About Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food

Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, which operates under Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), is one of the leading palm oil plantation companies, with a total planted area in Indonesia of over half a million hectares, including plasma, and works with more than 800,000 smallholders farmers. As part of GAR’s global agribusiness with a seed-to-shelf approach, the company manages an integrated business across the production of food products derived from vegetable oils, and continues to grow with purpose, delivering long-term value through sustainable palm oil production practices.

In Indonesia, the company’s main activities include oil palm cultivation and harvesting, processing fresh fruit bunches into Crude Palm Oill (CPO) and palm kernel, and refining CPO into value-added products such as cooking oil, margarine, shortening, and biodiesel for markets worldwide. The company also operates in China and India, with facilities for processing vegetable oils and food products. In 2025, the company produced approximately 2.8 million tonnes of palm-based products, across more than 30 consumer brands.

Sustainability is an integral part of the company’s operations. In line with GAR’s Responsible Agri-Commodity Sourcing policy and Collective for Impact framework, it is committed to ensuring responsible practices, enhancing supply chain transparency, and delivering positive environmental and social impact. Currently, 99.5% of its palm oil supply chain in Indonesia is traceable to the plantation level, while non-palm commodities are 100% traceable to the mill level.

Its parent company, GAR, was founded in 1996 and listed on the Singapore Exchange in 1999, with a market capitalisation of US$2.8 billion as of 31 December 2025. Flambo International Limited, an investment company, is currently GAR’s largest shareholder, with a 50.56% stake. GAR has several subsidiaries, including PT SMART Tbk, which has been listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange since 1992. With operations in 14 countries and products sold in over 110 markets, GAR combines global scale with local insight. Beyond palm, GAR is a global trader of sugar, soybean, sunflower, and coconut, supported by strong shipping and logistics capabilities.