Paying Attention to Mother and Baby: Paying Attention to Life (Health problems mapping in Indonesia)

Monday, 14 December 2020
by Isna Efrieno

 

Health problems are still a concern in Indonesia, even it can be said vulnerable, because starting from a trivial matter, human life can be threatened if it is not handled properly, especially in remote areas with limited health services. These various health problems arise from a variety of geographical conditions in Indonesia, including Manggarai regency, east Nusa Tenggara province where I live.

 

 

One issue that makes me concerned much is the death rate of mother and baby. In 2018 Manggarai District Health Office Report stated that one of the problems is maternal and infant deaths, as well as malnutrition. Some obstacles to overcome the problem include limited human resources health workers, geographical conditions of the region, culture, distribution of health workers, not optimal implementation of SOP in the first level of health facilitation (FKTP), health budget and limited quality medical devices. Health human resources are limited ranging from quantity, quality, type and distribution of general practitioners, nutritionists, pharmacists, health analysis, etc. This limitation hinders the health services and worse the available health workers are overwhelmed by simultaneously tasks so that the work to handle patients is abandoned or delayed. 

 

What should we do? Good handling begins from mapping the factors related to the problem, especially in Manggarai. First, improving health human resources through education and technical training in the field of health including evenly distribution of health workers in Manggarai, especially in remote difficult-to-reach areas with the availability of first services for patients, especially for pregnant women and childbirth.

 

 

It is not easy and it needs government intervention because not everyone is ready to be in remote areas. There are government efforts to improve health with Nusantara Sehat program from the Ministry of Health to improve access and quality of health services to health care facilities in disadvantaged areas, borders and islands, as well as in health-troubled areas, by providing professional doctors, nurses, midwives, public health workers, environmental health workers, medical laboratory technology experts, nutritionists and pharmaceutical workers. In 2017 Manggarai received twenty-two health workers from Nusantara Sehat program and they were distributed in 4 health centers: Wae Kajong, Reo, Bea Mese and Iteng, consisting of general practitioners, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, sanitarian and nutrition workers matched with the needs of first health centre  (kupang.tribunnews.com/2017/09/07/22-tenaga-kesehatan-tim-nusantara-sehat-bertugas-di-kabupaten-manggarai). Next, why is maternal and infant death still vulnerable? Another closely related factor is the family, as the first circle of mothers and infants. The family should strive for their safety  and ensure the availability of the needs of mothers and infants since pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Unluckily, the condition of the families is very diverse, covering the level of education, self-awareness, how to meet the needs of life plus cultural and geographical factors. Thus, health education is needed for families, not only the prospective mothers who will care for their babies  and their husbands, but also extended families.

 

The Church can be involved to improve the quality of health. Has the church been paying attention and involved to handle the health problems of citizens and the community? The Church is a place of responsibility in ministry, it is necessary to play a role in health for example through preaching about health based on religious and Biblical teachings, socialization about health because it is also an effort to maintain and care for one's self as a noble and reasoned creature of God. Other alternatives can do monitoring the health of the congregation regularly and do efforts to improve the nutrition of the congregation. So that the church is not only worship but it is more than that as a form of complete love of the Church towards its people.

 

 

Health issues become a common responsibility, the government through the field of health, awareness of individuals engaged in health, the behavior of individuals in families and communities and other institutions that pay attention to this social problem. From the findings of maternal and infant mortality problems around me, made me more aware and equipped to realize the importance of health for myself, my family and the surrounding in which I live and continue to participate for a better Manggarai.***

 

 

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