Red Cross brings clean water, health program to East Timorese<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
Tomorrow the world celebrates Red Cross day. To commemorate
\nthe occasion The Jakarta Post takes a glimpse at the work of the
\nInternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in East Timor
\nconcerning a clean water and health program, along with the more
\nsensitive issue of detention visits.<\/p>\n
BILUMAHALO, East Timor (JP): Mothers and children gather at
\nthe village center. Many children appear to be dressed in their
\n"Sunday outfit". Mothers look on curiously, anxious as nurses
\nfrom the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the
\nIndonesian Red Cross (PMI) weigh and measure their children.<\/p>\n
It has been a long wait, but the ICRC-PMI has finally come to
\nthe village of Bilumahalo. And with it there is already an
\nexpectancy that things will get better.<\/p>\n
Some learn of it from health dissemination lectures, others
\nhave seen the results in neighboring villages. Whatever the case,
\nthey know that their lives could be better and submitted a
\nrequest for assistance.<\/p>\n
The ICRC, in cooperation with PMI, began their water and
\nsanitation program in 1988. It was consolidated in 1994 and now
\ncomprises a clean water project and public health program.<\/p>\n
The project entails the construction of a water well system
\nfrom a nearby spring which is then connected through a simple
\npluming system to the settlements. The distribution runs from
\njust a few hundred meters to eight kilometers.<\/p>\n
Water projects are not uncommon here. But the ICRC is somewhat
\ndistinct in that it is almost a self-help plan for the village.<\/p>\n
It is the villagers themselves who make the request. The
\nproject is not thrust upon them by a group of well-intentioned
\noutsiders.<\/p>\n
According to the ICRC's resident water sanitation engineer
\nJean Vergain, 53 water projects in 33 villages have been
\ncompleted with another four under construction.<\/p>\n
The 143 approved requests is evidence of the villagers trust
\ntoward the project.<\/p>\n
To construct the water project, 31 Timorese are employed,
\nknown as the ICRC-PMI operation team, and divided into five
\nteams.<\/p>\n
In the village of Dair, Liquisa, some 60 kilometers west of
\nDili, villagers first had to make a one-kilometer road upstream
\nthrough rough terrain so equipment could be brought in.<\/p>\n
Jean said the plumbing system is based on simplicity, using
\nforces of gravity and simple pumps to channel the water.<\/p>\n
Once completed the water is connected to taps and latrines in
\nthe villages. A local resident is selected to oversee the water
\nsystem and taught how to make minor repairs.<\/p>\n
In Dair, 30-year old Alfredo was chosen to oversee the
\nmaintenance of his village's recently completed water project. He
\nis proud of his duties.<\/p>\n
"I was chosen because I was the most responsible," he said in
\nTetum dialect, adding that he had been taught to make small
\nrepairs.<\/p>\n
When asked what he would do if damages occurred, he replied
\nthat he would get in contact with the ICRC office.<\/p>\n
"But do you know where the office is?"<\/p>\n
"No," he replied. "But I could always ask."<\/p>\n
Since 1994 the water projects have been associated with a
\npublic health program. Villagers are educated on health and
\nnutrition. Nutritional surveys are also conducted before and
\nafter the start of the water project.<\/p>\n
Villagers are taught to use latrines, the proper dispensing of
\nwaste and other basic hygienic habits.<\/p>\n
ICRC nurse May Jahel admits that teaching villagers such
\nhealth concepts can be tough since it concerns changing people's
\nmentality. Washing and bathing can be taught, but whether they
\nwill pick up the habit is another question.<\/p>\n
After all, there is often very little impetus, except trust,
\nto prompt the villagers to change their lifestyle.<\/p>\n
The results of the health survey are forwarded to Indonesian
\nhealth authorities. It is actually the government who then acts
\nshould a medical need arise. The ICRC operation team functions
\nmore as a monitor and disseminator of information.<\/p>\n
Aside from the financial aspects of the project and the fine
\nwork of ICRC delegates in East Timor, it appears that much of the
\nwork here can be conducted by Indonesian authorities.<\/p>\n
Secretary to the East Timor branch of the PMI Ign. Pudjiono
\nsaid it has anticipated the possibility that at one point the
\nICRC will not be there.<\/p>\n
Thus far the ICRC and PMI have worked well together.<\/p>\n
Cooperation in the late 1970s and early 1980s focused on
\nemergency food and medical assistance, followed by repatriation,
\nand tracing and mailing services. Since 1979, 1,464 people have
\nbeen assisted in the repatriation, family reunion or migration
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
The key to the program's success is that the villagers
\nthemselves ask for assistance and partake in constructing the
\nwater project.<\/p>\n
This allows for a sense of ownership and self pride among the
\npeople. The water project is theirs because they built it and
\nthrough health dissemination they also realize the chance to
\nimprove their well-being.<\/p>\n
All the elements are voluntary. They are not required to
\nfollow a preset program, they are merely being suggested how to
\nlive better.<\/p>\n
Whether they decide to follow these guidances is their own
\nprerogative. Their health can only get better if they realize how
\nto live better.<\/p>\n
The grand design of these projects is inherent with the ICRC's
\nhumanitarian objective of preserving the physical integrity and
\ndignity of the people.<\/p>\n
Alleviating suffering and raising the dignity of the Timorese
\nhelps to forge a climate of tolerance and goodwill in a province
\nwhich has seen so much strife.<\/p>\n
It is hoped tolerance and goodwill will bring about peace.<\/p>\n
The village of Bilumahalo doesn't have its water project yet.<\/p>\n
It will be interesting to see whether the assistance of ICRC
\nwill give this remote peaceful village some peace of mind.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/red-cross-brings-clean-water-health-program-to-east-timorese-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}