Aid in Action

A Community Takes Action

Restoring Midwife Services in Songgom Jaya

Serang, Banten | Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Can a community successfully demand their right to health services from the government?  In the Serang district of Banten province, they have!

In 1996, as part of a national initiative to place a midwife in every Indonesian village, villagers from Songgom Jaya used their own funds to build a house and clinic called Polindes for the government-appointed midwife to live in.  While a series of midwives served the community through 2002, the Polindes has been standing empty for six years. “Our people are poor,” said the village head, Bapak Subandi.  “We were angry that our health post wasn’t being staffed, but we didn’t know where to turn.” 

Located in Banten, the Songgom Jaya village has a relatively large population –close to 3,800 people. The village is six kilometers from the nearest community health center or locally named Puskesmas , and 35 kilometers from the district hospital.  The transportation cost to the Puskesmas – Rp. 10,000 – is close to half of the daily average family income.

After the USAID Health Services Program (HSP) facilitated villagers to conduct a participatory health needs assessment, community members identified the lack of a village midwife as a top priority.  HSP assisted the Community Health Committee to bring the problem to the attention of the Puskesmas midwife coordinator, Ibu Puji.

Within weeks, the Polindes was open and staffed by a midwife who HSP had trained in Basic Delivery Care (APN).  The community provided new furniture, and services now include family planning, antenatal care, post-partum care and child health services.  The midwife is also on-call to assist home deliveries.  On an average Monday, the Polindes serves 15-20 clients. “I am not sure why it took us six years to act,” said Bapak Subandi, “but I sure am pleased with the results!  Now women and children can get the health services they need, at an affordable cost.”