Childbirth
is one of the most beautiful creations of the universe, and it is still
considered a godly gift for which every woman yearns. The ugly truth
according to the WHO, about a thousand women in the world die from
causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, every day. In developing
countries, common complications such as obstructed, preeclampsia (high
blood pressure during pregnancy) or excessive bleeding can kill the
mother, the child, or even both.
In
Indonesia, the alarming mortality rates of women and babies in
Indonesia is leaving everyone grieve struck. The maternal mortality rate
is 228 per 100,000 live births, with infant mortality at 27 per 1,000
births, which is one of the highest in Asian nations. In Bali itself,
the underlying problem for this issue is the extensive tourism which has
led to high cost of living. The basic necessities of life have become
so expensive that the locals tend to compromise on keeping babies,
resulting on major health concerns.
Bumi Sehat Foundation International
is one of non-profit organisations focusing on this issue. They believe
that every individual has the right to access quality healthcare where
hygienic and culturally appropriate birth right is practiced. To sustain
this goal, they provide general health services, emergency care,
prenatal, postpartum and birth services, and breastfeeding support; in
addition, healthcare and youth education, environmental and disaster
relief programs.
Their
ideology is very strong, wherein each human being is an essential
societal component of peace. They care for the smallest citizens on
earth, the babies, thus creating peace within the mother, baby and the
family one at a time. It is a branch which is slowly but progressively
growing. Bumi Sehat Foundation International's mission is to reduce
maternal and child morbidity and mortality as well as to support the
health and wise development of communities. It is devotedly working in
partnership with communities to improve quality of life.
Back
in 1995, Bumi Sehat Foundation International’s founder, Robin Lim,
began providing health services free of charge for pregnant women and
children under the age of five in the Ubud. Today, Bumi Sehat Foundation
International operates two Community Health Education and Childbirth
Centres, one in Bali and another in post-tsunami Aceh. Not just
restricting to provide health services, this foundation has launched
many other welfare programs as well. Education through their Youth
Centres, elderly wellness services, scholarship programs for future
midwives, disaster relief programs are some of the programs which has
been launched successfully. The last year statistics show that more than
600 new-borns peacefully into this world. It is indeed a great
accomplishment.
The
first Bumi Sehat Foundation International’s clinic is located in the
village of Nyuh Kuning, just outside Ubud. This Community Health Clinic
has two birthing rooms, a postpartum recovery area, and three general
health treatment areas. They provide weekly check-ups, ongoing birth
services, and 24-hour a day emergency health services. The major
investment has been a fully equipped ambulance which is essential for
transporting emergencies that occur in birth. The ambulance is also
employed for hospital transport of motorbike accident victims, sick
children or the elderly. Their Community Health Clinic conducts
approximately 20,000 consultations and more than 500 births per year. A
new state of the art clinic has been inaugurated in October 2016. This
clinic is designed to be more than three times the size of the current
clinic. The design is in concurrence to the way that midwives, doctors
and nurses practice. Owing to the volatility of the region, it is
earthquake resistant as well.
The
team at Bumi Sehat is extremely professional. Currently they employ
more than 80 full-time members which most of whom are internationally
recognized midwives, who bring the new-borns to this world with utmost
dedication, love and safety. The Clinics are open 24 hours a day and
staffed with midwives, doctors, nurses and international volunteers from
around the world. A professional office staff works behind the scenes
to manage the organization’s finances to ensure responsible accounting
and donation allocation.
Bumi
Sehat Foundation International has generous local and international
supporters. Some caring organizations and wide hearted Individuals
donate generously for this noble cause. Apart from just financial
contributions, each of these involved organizations and individuals have
walked the extra miles to create greater awareness to improve the
quality of life for babies, mothers, families and communities.
We
can also become a part of this team. Our continuity support and
generous donation means a lot for the live of this organisation.
Donation doesn’t always come in form of cash, but can also be items for
hospital needs (beds, neonatal supplies, vitamins and supplements, and
general office equipment). If you want to get actively involved, by all
means to enrol as a volunteer in their ongoing programmes. But more than
that, at least you can always give a hand in spreading the word on
social media. Any contribution we make goes a deep way in nurturing the
roots of this organisation.
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can definitely help someone”
Bumi Sehat Foundation International
+62 361 970002
Banjar Nyuh Kuning, Ubud
This article is also published at NOW! Bali Magazine
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