The only way out: Two residents push a motorbike in the waters off Temajuk. Photo by Agus Wahyuni

As long as road construction projects remain in limbo, Temajuk residents will continue to live in danger as they only have one paramedic and one midwife to provide healthcare. Physicians are only stationed in Paloh district, not Temajuk.

Sambas regency only has 31 doctors for its 500,000 inhabitants, with more than 23,000 people living in Paloh district.

Two doctors are in charge of the Paloh district public clinic, while Temajuk only has a paramedic to provide health services for local residents, which means certain cases have to be referred to clinics or hospitals.

Sambas Health Office Chief Ketut acknowledged only the strict minimum had been put in place in terms of providing healthcare services in the area.

Funds for speedboat operations and drug distribution to remote interior areas were also lacking.
“If we had enough money, health services would improve,” said Ketut.

House Commission IX member Karolin Margaret Natasa blamed the Health Ministry for the inadequacy of its health service program when it comes to people living in isolated regions. She cited as an example the assignment of physicians in such areas on an annual contract basis.

“They will return to their original places when their contracts expire,” said Karolin.  

Likewise, money is spent on upgrading buildings of public clinics, instead of being invested in airborne or flying doctors who could be flown to reach remote regions, besides assigning medical personnel to conduct annual public health studies.

“These measures are more effective than upgrading clinic buildings,” she added.

Today Temajuk people are demanding the government improve local infrastructure and access to health services. As long as the government does not meet their needs, the state is putting their lives at risk.

Indonesian Human Rights Commissioner Yosep Adi Prastyo said when The Jakarta Post met him in Jakarta that the loss of lives as a result of the regions’ isolation should be seen as a sin of the state and a violation of human rights.

It is the state’s duty to implement its public policies, in this case provide public health service and infrastructure to its citizens in Temajuk as borderland guards of Indonesia.

—  JP/Agus Wahyuni

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