JP\/18\/MASSAG
\n(Jun's corrections entered 23\/9)
\nAIDS agency turns to massage for income, employment opportunity<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Denpasar<\/p>\n
A strained neck did not prevent Dudy Rohadi, the coordinator of
\nMatahati's After Care Program, from personally directing his
\nstaff to clean and spruce up the three-story building on that
\nclear Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
\"I have to get the building ready for the soft opening or the
\nboss will chew my head off,\" he grimaced.<\/p>\n
The boss he referred to was Yacintha Egamadona, who was
\nchatting animatedly outside the building with Brad Otto of
\nYayasan Burnet Indonesia (YBI).<\/p>\n
She definitely did not look like the kind of person who would
\nchew her employee's head of. Yet, her sharp, restless look and
\ncommanding gestures clearly showed that she wasn't a purring
\nkitten either.<\/p>\n
\"We're taking a big step today and I don't want anybody
\nmessing it up,\" she barked.<\/p>\n
The big step was the Matahati Massage Facility, the HIV\/AIDS
\nnon governmental organization's (NGO's) first foray into the
\nbusiness world. The facility, which charges Rp 45,000 for foot
\nreflexology and Rp 150,000 for full-body massage, is expected to
\nprovide an alternative source of income to the foundation and job
\nopportunities to Matahati clients, many of whom are Injecting
\nDrug Users (IDUs).<\/p>\n
It is staffed by 10 certified reflexologists, who have
\nundergone extensive training at Jari Menari, an international
\nmassage training center.<\/p>\n
YBI and Bali Rehabilitation Fund (BRF) provided Matahati with
\ntechnical and financial assistance to start the business.<\/p>\n
\"Profit is not our motivation. Basically, we help and assist
\nlocal communities in creating employment opportunities, thus
\nproviding them with a means to survive the economic downturn
\ncaused by the Bali bombings,\" BRF coordinator Donna Leigh Holden
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In the past three years, BRF, which was set up by the
\nAustralian government after the terrorist attack in October,
\n2002, has poured in A$1.5 million in financial assistance to over
\n75 projects all over Bali. The assistance covers a wide range of
\nsectors, from agriculture and education to conservation.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that Matahati's initiative will be beneficial to
\nthe IDUs and their families,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Growing foundation<\/p>\n
Matahati, which was established in July, 2004, is one of the
\nyoungest fighters in the island's battle against the epidemic.
\nMost of its staff, however, are veteran volunteers, who have been
\nin the field since the beginning of the battle.<\/p>\n
\"We want to expand the coverage of HIV\/AIDS programs to
\ninclude a broader area and larger population,\" foundation
\nchairwoman Yacintha Egamadona stressed.<\/p>\n
The objectives are based on the realization that most of the
\nisland's HIV\/AIDS-related resources are being disproportionately
\nconcentrated in the urbanized areas of Denpasar and Kuta.
\nMoreover, a large number of the prevention programs have focused
\non IDUs.<\/p>\n
\"We need to pay more attention to the island's suburban and
\nrural areas and devise appropriate programs for the families of
\nIDUs and the general public,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Currently, the foundation, which is based in Batubulan,
\nGianyar, manages four primary programs, namely harm reduction,
\ncare, support and treatment, recovery and aftercare. Its
\ndedicated staff of 12 outreach workers and counselors provide
\nservices and support to over 700 clients, 400 of whom are IDUs,
\nwho come from the rural areas of Badung, Tabanan, Gianyar, Bangli
\nand Buleleng.<\/p>\n
\"We also have to establish a special program to assist the
\nformer IDUs and people living with HIV\/AIDS (PLWHA) to regain or
\nmaintain their position as productive members of society,\" she
\nadded.<\/p>\n
\"The establishment of Matahati Massage Facility is the first
\nof a series of programs aimed at providing the former IDUs, PLWHA
\nand their families with vocational training and employment
\nopportunities,\" she stressed.<\/p>\n
It is also the first step toward building a self-supporting
\nNGO. Since the beginning, the island's response to the epidemic
\nhas been made possible by generous financial support from foreign
\nfunding agencies, most notably the Indonesian HIV\/AIDS Care and
\ntreatment Program (IHPCP).<\/p>\n
\"The NGOs, and later on the IDUs and PLWHA, must gradually
\nlearn to be self-supporting financially. Otherwise, the funding
\nagency will be overwhelmed by the prolonged burden of funding so
\nmany NGOs,\" said Yacintha.<\/p>\n
in box:
\nMatahati Massage Facility
\nJl. Mertanadi 86 E, Kerobokan, Kuta
\n(0361) 7425001<\/p>\n
open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
Caption Foto: Brad Otto (front) of Yayasan Burnet Indonesia
\nenjoys an invigorating foot massage given by Vrisca, a
\nreflexologist at the newly opened Matahati Massage Facility in
\nKerobokan, Kuta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp18massag-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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