Sutardi doctors Orang Rimba<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Jambi<\/p>\n
When Sutardi Diharjo, a graduate of the Police Nursing College
\nwho majored in hemodialysis, pondered joining a team to provide
\nhealth care to the Orang Rimba, literally the forest people, an
\nindigenous tribe living in Bukit Duabelas National Park in Jambi,
\npeople frowned upon the idea.<\/p>\n
"Why should you go so far away, staying deep in the forest to
\nwork with these forest people?" they asked.<\/p>\n
Sutardi simply turned a deaf ear to such skepticism.<\/p>\n
Born on May 12, 1978 in a small village in Kedung Ringin in
\nSurakarta, Central Java, Sutardi finally made up his mind to join
\nthe team.<\/p>\n
One of his major considerations was that he wanted to have an
\nenriching experience by taking on this adventurous job.<\/p>\n
He did not care that he could most likely get a job at Raden
\nSaid Sukanto Central Police Hospital in the capital, where he
\nused to work as a nurse in the operation room.<\/p>\n
In Jambi alone, many colleagues were unwilling to be assigned
\nto a hamlet far from the bustling city. Even those who sign up
\nfor the assignment prefer to stay in the forest for only a brief
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
Sutardi, however, has chosen the forest and to help the Orang
\nRimba.<\/p>\n
In order to realize his goal, Sutardi signed up for an 18-
\nmonth stint with Warsi, a non-governmental organization that has
\nbeen providing medical care to the Orang Rimba for over three
\nyears. Aside from his work with the Orang Rimba, Sutardi also
\nruns advocacy campaigns at local health offices.<\/p>\n
The Warsi team has provided medical services for some 2,600
\nOrang Rimba, who follow a traditional way of life. As part of its
\nlong-term project, Warsi hopes to teach the Orang Rimba the
\nimportance of good medical care, so that they will cease to be
\ndependent on Warsi in health issues.<\/p>\n
"In fact, provincial and regental health offices have provided
\nhealth care services to the tribespeople, but only a few of them
\nhave enjoyed these services, particularly those easily accessible
\nby outsiders," Sutardi told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
One of the difficulties that Sutardi has had to face in his
\njob is the Orang Rimba's strong belief in traditional herbal
\nremedies, or ethnomedicine, and their faith in shamans.<\/p>\n
While these methods are generally effective, there are many
\ndiseases that cannot be cured in the traditional way. The health
\nof the tribespeople has also declined because of their lack of
\nknowledge on caring for their health and on a healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n
"At first, they did not trust modern medicine," Sutardi said.<\/p>\n
He attributes the poor health of the Orang Rimba to poor
\npersonal hygiene -- many of them have diarrhea, skin problems and
\nbad teeth. Other diseases often found among the forest people
\ninclude upper respiratory tract infections, malaria, intestinal
\nworms and digestive tract infections.<\/p>\n
Many Orang Rimba suffer from upper respiratory tract
\ninfections because they start smoking between the ages of six to
\nseven years. Even old women cannot get away from smoking.<\/p>\n
"It is not easy to change their habits, because it is their
\nbelief that whether or not you smoke, you will die -- and that
\nyou could die any day, today or tomorrow," he said.<\/p>\n
Sutardi's patience in reaching out to the Orang Rimba has
\nhelped to introduce a change in their lifestyle. They now use
\nsoap when bathing, and wash their hands before and after a meal.<\/p>\n
"They brush their teeth now, and also wash their clothing and
\ndry them," he added.<\/p>\n
Several decades ago, the Orang Rimba relied on many herbal
\nmedicines, harvested from their forest home, to cure illnesses.
\nNow that many forest areas have been converted to timber
\nconcessions and resettlement areas, and illegal logging has razed
\nforest areas, many of these herbs have disappeared.<\/p>\n
"The tribal chief used to be able to find the raw materials
\nfor their traditional medicines, but not any more," said Sutardi.<\/p>\n
Aside from providing medical care for the Orang Rimba, Sutardi
\nalso acts as an interpreter between the Orang Rimba and hospital
\nstaff. He said the tribespeople sometimes found it strange that
\nwhen Orang Terang (outsiders) visited sick relatives, they
\nusually gave them gifts or money.<\/p>\n
"The Orang Rimba have never done so," he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that it was difficult to persuade the Orang Rimba
\nto seek medical help at a hospital. They believe that illness is
\ndue to a curse or black magic.<\/p>\n
"I have often had to try hard to explain to them that illness
\nis not something to be afraid of but something to be cured," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The perseverance and patience that Sutardi and Warsi show in
\ntheir dealings with Orang Rimba have paid off. Teaming up with
\nhealth offices, the community empowerment and social welfare
\noffice of Merangin regency, Jambi, Warsi has distributed 500
\nhealth cards to the Orang Rimba people in the park.<\/p>\n
"These health cards, which are part of the social safety net
\nprogram, allow the poor to enjoy free health care," he said.<\/p>\n
Sutardi is responsible for the distribution of these health
\ncards and the administration side. The health cards for the Orang
\nRimba are special in that, unlike regular health cards, they are
\nvalid for life.<\/p>\n
"These health cards can be used at all hospitals and health
\ncommunity centers in Jambi," he said.<\/p>\n
The distribution of these health cards is evidence of the
\nincreasing attention the government pays to the Orang Rimba. With
\nSutardi acting as facilitator, three Orang Rimba children --
\nBeconteng, 8, Melempi, 7, and Mijak, 13 -- underwent surgery at
\nAbundjani General Hospital in Bangko and Raden Mattaher General
\nHospital in Jambi.<\/p>\n
Beconteng had a cyst behind his left ear removed while Melempi
\nand Mijak had surgery for congenital hernias in June 2003,
\nSutardi said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutardi-doctors-orang-rimba-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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