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span class="inline inline-left">Displaced: Two women could not hold back tears when officers from the Public Order Agency and the East Jakarta Cemetery sub-agency began tearing down their homes, illegally built in Cipinang Besar cemetery, Kebon Nanas, East Jakarta. The evictees are temporarily staying in relatives’ homes or in public parks. Antara/Dhoni SetiawanWhile collecting his few belongings, including a straw mat and a teapot, Kurnia, 28, said that he was clueless as to where he would live after public order officers had demolished his shack the day before.

Kurnia, a scavenger, had built his tiny shelter amid the gravestones in Cipinang Besar Cemetery in East Jakarta two years ago.

“I knew that living here was illegal. I also knew that someday city officers would evict us from here,” Kurnia told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

When he first built his shack in the cemetery, Kurnia promised himself he would stay for as short a time as possible. “Yet, I found it hard to relocate,” he said.

Now that his shack has been pulled down, along with hundreds of other illegal structures in the cemetery complex, Kurnia is trying his best to find a new home. “I live with my younger brother. We don’t need a big place, but even looking for a small space is not easy,” he said, adding that lack of money had prevented him from renting a modest house.

Kurnia said that he had slept in a small public park in Kelapa Gading, East Jakarta, on Monday night. “It was not so bad, but it is an open place. Officers can find us easily, and they will chase us away,” he said.

Another evictee, Suryani, said that her family had been staying at her relative’s small rented house in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, since the eviction. “I feel bad because my uncle’s family has to share the home with us,” she said.

Suryani, a mother of three, said that she hoped her husband would find a new place near the cemetery as soon as possible.

“I sell drinks and snacks outside Trisakti University nearby the cemetery. That’s why I don’t want to stay too far from there,” she said.

Kurnia and Suryani are two of many residents who lived illegally in cemeteries for years, despite warnings from the government.

Their last attempt at rent-free living ended badly when 450 officials from the Public Order Agency and the East Jakarta Cemetery sub-agency tore down 373 temporary houses on Monday.

The Friday before, officers had pulled down 101 shacks in Pondok Kelapa Cemetery. They also demolished 94 makeshift-homes in Rawabunga Cemetery on Saturday.

East Jakarta Cemetery sub-agency head Made Sudhiarta said that the demolitions were aimed at ensuring that the cemeteries remained resting places for the deceased only.

The 2008 regional regulation on public order and the 2009 gubernatorial decree on illegal buildings prohibit the construction of houses in cemeteries. “I hope the evictees will never come back here again,” Made said. (lfr)

Indonesia needs more midwives to reduce maternal mortality rate

The high maternal mortality rate in Indonesia is of serious concern. According to research conducted
on basic health in 2007, Indonesia’s maternal mortality rate stands at 228 per 100,000 live births,
while the infant mortality rate is 31 per 1,000 live births. By index, Indonesia ranks 27 in terms of maternal mortality rate, far higher compared to Singapore that ranks 200 out of around 400 countries.

A lack of reproductive health services for impoverished pregnant women and a lack of access to such services contribute to the high maternal mortality rate in the country. Bleeding and pre-eclampsia, a medical condition, and rising hypertension during pregnancy are among the causes of death of pregnant mothers.

Lots of pregnant women in villages use the services of midwives when it comes to childbirth, which means that midwives play a pivotal role in society, especially in regards to reducing the maternal and infant mortality rate. Out of over four million childbirths in villages each year, more than 60 percent are facilitated by midwives.

According to Yetty Irawan, secretary-general of the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI), the number of midwives in Indonesia stands at 175,124.

Ideally, there should be three midwives in every village in Indonesia.

Currently, there are 35,000 villages across Indonesia where pregnant women have no access to childbirth services. “This means that Indonesia lacks 105,000 midwives,” she said, adding that the shortage of midwives might prompt pregnant women in villages to resort to using the services of unqualified traditional midwives or dukun bayi or other non-medical childbirth services.

If this situation continues, then the maternal mortality rate will remain high and therefore, continuous and concerted efforts should be made to address the issue,” she said.

Given the great role that midwives play in society, especially in regards to the reduction of the maternal and infant mortality rate, PT Sari Husada, in cooperation with the IBI, held the Srikandi Award for the third time since 2009. Under the Srikandi Award program, acknowledgment is given to nine midwives whose work can provide an inspiration to their peers across the country.

Out of the nine selected midwives, three have been selected by a panel of judges as the best under different categories, namely cultural challenges, promotion of health and economic empowerment (See Box).

The panel of judges comprised of Dr. Kartono Mohamad, former head of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), Dr. H. Abidinsyah Siregar, DHSM, a representative from the Ministry of Health, Ninuk Mardiana Pambudi, senior editor of Kompas Daily, Dr. Hari Koesno, chairman of IBI, Diah Saminarsih, assistant to special envoy of President for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and Dr. Pinky Saptandari, expert staff of the Minister for the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.

First set up in 2009, the Srikandi Award program is an initiative to improve, encourage and acknowledge midwives for dedication to their profession and contribution to society, especially in regards to the reduction of malnutrition, the maternal and infant mortality rate and enhancement of maternal health under ‘Pos Bhakti Bidan’ program. The program was developed and is jointly carried out by IBI and Sari Husada.

IBI chairman Dr. Harni Koesno, MKM, said, “Amid our joint efforts to accelerate the achievement of
the MDGs target, a midwife constitutes an important figure who plays an important and strategic role. Her role is more than just providing childbirth services, a midwife has now become a figure who can take more actions to improve maternal health and maternal and infant nutrition
in society.”

Meanwhile, Boris Bourdin, president director of Sari Husada, pointed out, “Srikandi Award 2011 selects nine inspiring midwives who are able to provide maximum contribution despite various obstacles or challenges that midwives face in dealing with health improvement efforts and maternal and infant welfare in society.”

“Today, midwives are not only required to have adequate knowledge and childbirth-related skills but also the ability to make a social analysis, solve problems, to have creative thinking, and commitment to accomplishing their work with their heart and full dedication.”

According to him, the nominated midwives have presented programs that are useful for improving social health, which they conduct in various inspiring ways. “It is clearly seen that midwives have become an inseparable part of Indonesian social life, especially in regions where access is difficult for medical personnel. A midwife is a noble profession that deserves adequate attention and appreciation from the whole community,” Bourdin added.

Dr. Kartono Mohamad, chairman of the panel, explained, “This year’s Srikandi Award is aimed at raising the issue of the complexity of the roles of midwives amid various challenges in society. Through the long selection process, the nine selected midwives have managed to respond to the relevance of the program, to the challenges.”

“The award is expected to be able to inspire and ask medical personnel, especially midwives, to reaffirm their commitment to supporting the achievement of quality health, especially for mothers and infants,” Dr. Harni Koesno, MKM, added.

With the government’s goal to reduce the maternal mortality rate to 102 per 100,000 live births by 2015 as a way to meet the standards set by the MDGs, all parties — not only midwives — should be involved in this.