JP/18/MASSAG

JP/18/MASSAG
(Jun's corrections entered 23/9)
AIDS agency turns to massage for income, employment opportunity

I Wayan Juniartha
The Jakarta Post/Denpasar

A strained neck did not prevent Dudy Rohadi, the coordinator of
Matahati's After Care Program, from personally directing his
staff to clean and spruce up the three-story building on that
clear Saturday morning.

"I have to get the building ready for the soft opening or the
boss will chew my head off," he grimaced.

The boss he referred to was Yacintha Egamadona, who was
chatting animatedly outside the building with Brad Otto of
Yayasan Burnet Indonesia (YBI).

She definitely did not look like the kind of person who would
chew her employee's head of. Yet, her sharp, restless look and
commanding gestures clearly showed that she wasn't a purring
kitten either.

"We're taking a big step today and I don't want anybody
messing it up," she barked.

The big step was the Matahati Massage Facility, the HIV/AIDS
non governmental organization's (NGO's) first foray into the
business world. The facility, which charges Rp 45,000 for foot
reflexology and Rp 150,000 for full-body massage, is expected to
provide an alternative source of income to the foundation and job
opportunities to Matahati clients, many of whom are Injecting
Drug Users (IDUs).

It is staffed by 10 certified reflexologists, who have
undergone extensive training at Jari Menari, an international
massage training center.

YBI and Bali Rehabilitation Fund (BRF) provided Matahati with
technical and financial assistance to start the business.

"Profit is not our motivation. Basically, we help and assist
local communities in creating employment opportunities, thus
providing them with a means to survive the economic downturn
caused by the Bali bombings," BRF coordinator Donna Leigh Holden
said.

In the past three years, BRF, which was set up by the
Australian government after the terrorist attack in October,
2002, has poured in A$1.5 million in financial assistance to over
75 projects all over Bali. The assistance covers a wide range of
sectors, from agriculture and education to conservation.

"We believe that Matahati's initiative will be beneficial to
the IDUs and their families," she added.

Growing foundation

Matahati, which was established in July, 2004, is one of the
youngest fighters in the island's battle against the epidemic.
Most of its staff, however, are veteran volunteers, who have been
in the field since the beginning of the battle.

"We want to expand the coverage of HIV/AIDS programs to
include a broader area and larger population," foundation
chairwoman Yacintha Egamadona stressed.

The objectives are based on the realization that most of the
island's HIV/AIDS-related resources are being disproportionately
concentrated in the urbanized areas of Denpasar and Kuta.
Moreover, a large number of the prevention programs have focused
on IDUs.

"We need to pay more attention to the island's suburban and
rural areas and devise appropriate programs for the families of
IDUs and the general public," she said.

Currently, the foundation, which is based in Batubulan,
Gianyar, manages four primary programs, namely harm reduction,
care, support and treatment, recovery and aftercare. Its
dedicated staff of 12 outreach workers and counselors provide
services and support to over 700 clients, 400 of whom are IDUs,
who come from the rural areas of Badung, Tabanan, Gianyar, Bangli
and Buleleng.

"We also have to establish a special program to assist the
former IDUs and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to regain or
maintain their position as productive members of society," she
added.

"The establishment of Matahati Massage Facility is the first
of a series of programs aimed at providing the former IDUs, PLWHA
and their families with vocational training and employment
opportunities," she stressed.

It is also the first step toward building a self-supporting
NGO. Since the beginning, the island's response to the epidemic
has been made possible by generous financial support from foreign
funding agencies, most notably the Indonesian HIV/AIDS Care and
treatment Program (IHPCP).

"The NGOs, and later on the IDUs and PLWHA, must gradually
learn to be self-supporting financially. Otherwise, the funding
agency will be overwhelmed by the prolonged burden of funding so
many NGOs," said Yacintha.

in box:
Matahati Massage Facility
Jl. Mertanadi 86 E, Kerobokan, Kuta
(0361) 7425001

open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Caption Foto: Brad Otto (front) of Yayasan Burnet Indonesia
enjoys an invigorating foot massage given by Vrisca, a
reflexologist at the newly opened Matahati Massage Facility in
Kerobokan, Kuta.