Pay Rp 500 a month and stay healthy in West Kalimantan
Pay Rp 500 a month and stay healthy in West Kalimantan
By Edy Supriatna Sjafe'i
PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (Antara): You would probably not believe it, but the elderly in Ketapang regency here spend a mere Rp 500 (about 8 U.S. cents) a month to stay fit.
At first, junior medical doctors just sent to Ketapang do not believe it either.
The Rp 500, which is enough to buy a few candies for the senior citizen's grandchildren, in monthly payments has proven very useful for the elderly's health.
With this money, senior citizens can get free laboratory checkups for their eyes, teeth, heart and the various illnesses which often strike the elderly, as well as taking part in a weekly tai chi class. However, they must pay for any medicines which are prescribed.
This health care scheme may raise eyebrows in Indonesia, which is battered by an ongoing economic crisis.
As it is widely advertised, the Ministry of Health has introduced a health care scheme called a health paradigm. The program, which varies from regency to regency, is slowly being promoted and few places have yet enjoyed the service. Ketapang is one of those areas which the health care program has reached.
Health authorities in Ketapang say many people have fallen ill because of the unhealthy environment. Lack of clean water is the most common problem here.
So the elderly in Ketapang are very lucky to enjoy the benefits of the health paradigm. The scheme was started as a sincere effort to help the elderly stay healthy on only Rp 500 a month.
Participants have reported renewed vitality thanks to the program. They say their good health has boosted their spirit and self-confidence.
The program implemented in Sungai Kinjil, Tuantuan and Kauman villages and funded by the social safety net fund, has undoubtedly been helpful to senior citizens who wish to stay healthy and do not want to become burdens to their children.
Doctor H.M. Torisz from the provincial health office said the health care program benefits 215 elderly people in Matan Hilir subdistrict, an area which is desperately impoverished.
Residents in the area are generally on the low-end of the economic spectrum and have poor health and little education.
Credit for the initial success of the health care program goes to Darmadi, a medical doctor from Matan Hilir Selatan subdistrict's Puskesmas community health center.
Darmadi is the one who initiated the low-cost health care program. His idea arose from his concern for the many elderly farmers from various ethnic groups in the area who had acute health problems, including respiratory diseases and influenza. Many of these elderly people had lost their self-confidence and felt useless because of their age.
His inspiration came from a meeting with a master of tai chi, a breathing exercise which originates from China, named Mak Yang.
The problem was how to attract senior citizens from different ethnic backgrounds to the program. Darmadi said that initially, it was a difficult job.
Darmadi said that he first recruited several senior citizens to become volunteers in the program. They received free medical services because all the medicine was provided by the government. The funds needed for laboratory checkups came from donations from local community leaders.
"The Rp 500 that each participant pays every month doesn't go anywhere. It's just to make them feel responsible for their health," Darmadi said.
A participant in the program, A Hong, 60, said he felt he obtained new strength and spirit after taking part in the weekly tai chi class.