Red Cross brings clean water, health program to East Timorese
Red Cross brings clean water, health program to East Timorese
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
Tomorrow the world celebrates Red Cross day. To commemorate
the occasion The Jakarta Post takes a glimpse at the work of the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in East Timor
concerning a clean water and health program, along with the more
sensitive issue of detention visits.
BILUMAHALO, East Timor (JP): Mothers and children gather at
the village center. Many children appear to be dressed in their
"Sunday outfit". Mothers look on curiously, anxious as nurses
from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the
Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) weigh and measure their children.
It has been a long wait, but the ICRC-PMI has finally come to
the village of Bilumahalo. And with it there is already an
expectancy that things will get better.
Some learn of it from health dissemination lectures, others
have seen the results in neighboring villages. Whatever the case,
they know that their lives could be better and submitted a
request for assistance.
The ICRC, in cooperation with PMI, began their water and
sanitation program in 1988. It was consolidated in 1994 and now
comprises a clean water project and public health program.
The project entails the construction of a water well system
from a nearby spring which is then connected through a simple
pluming system to the settlements. The distribution runs from
just a few hundred meters to eight kilometers.
Water projects are not uncommon here. But the ICRC is somewhat
distinct in that it is almost a self-help plan for the village.
It is the villagers themselves who make the request. The
project is not thrust upon them by a group of well-intentioned
outsiders.
According to the ICRC's resident water sanitation engineer
Jean Vergain, 53 water projects in 33 villages have been
completed with another four under construction.
The 143 approved requests is evidence of the villagers trust
toward the project.
To construct the water project, 31 Timorese are employed,
known as the ICRC-PMI operation team, and divided into five
teams.
In the village of Dair, Liquisa, some 60 kilometers west of
Dili, villagers first had to make a one-kilometer road upstream
through rough terrain so equipment could be brought in.
Jean said the plumbing system is based on simplicity, using
forces of gravity and simple pumps to channel the water.
Once completed the water is connected to taps and latrines in
the villages. A local resident is selected to oversee the water
system and taught how to make minor repairs.
In Dair, 30-year old Alfredo was chosen to oversee the
maintenance of his village's recently completed water project. He
is proud of his duties.
"I was chosen because I was the most responsible," he said in
Tetum dialect, adding that he had been taught to make small
repairs.
When asked what he would do if damages occurred, he replied
that he would get in contact with the ICRC office.
"But do you know where the office is?"
"No," he replied. "But I could always ask."
Since 1994 the water projects have been associated with a
public health program. Villagers are educated on health and
nutrition. Nutritional surveys are also conducted before and
after the start of the water project.
Villagers are taught to use latrines, the proper dispensing of
waste and other basic hygienic habits.
ICRC nurse May Jahel admits that teaching villagers such
health concepts can be tough since it concerns changing people's
mentality. Washing and bathing can be taught, but whether they
will pick up the habit is another question.
After all, there is often very little impetus, except trust,
to prompt the villagers to change their lifestyle.
The results of the health survey are forwarded to Indonesian
health authorities. It is actually the government who then acts
should a medical need arise. The ICRC operation team functions
more as a monitor and disseminator of information.
Aside from the financial aspects of the project and the fine
work of ICRC delegates in East Timor, it appears that much of the
work here can be conducted by Indonesian authorities.
Secretary to the East Timor branch of the PMI Ign. Pudjiono
said it has anticipated the possibility that at one point the
ICRC will not be there.
Thus far the ICRC and PMI have worked well together.
Cooperation in the late 1970s and early 1980s focused on
emergency food and medical assistance, followed by repatriation,
and tracing and mailing services. Since 1979, 1,464 people have
been assisted in the repatriation, family reunion or migration
program.
The key to the program's success is that the villagers
themselves ask for assistance and partake in constructing the
water project.
This allows for a sense of ownership and self pride among the
people. The water project is theirs because they built it and
through health dissemination they also realize the chance to
improve their well-being.
All the elements are voluntary. They are not required to
follow a preset program, they are merely being suggested how to
live better.
Whether they decide to follow these guidances is their own
prerogative. Their health can only get better if they realize how
to live better.
The grand design of these projects is inherent with the ICRC's
humanitarian objective of preserving the physical integrity and
dignity of the people.
Alleviating suffering and raising the dignity of the Timorese
helps to forge a climate of tolerance and goodwill in a province
which has seen so much strife.
It is hoped tolerance and goodwill will bring about peace.
The village of Bilumahalo doesn't have its water project yet.
It will be interesting to see whether the assistance of ICRC
will give this remote peaceful village some peace of mind.