Physical Health Indonesia Project #12269

Health Education for Low-Income Women in Bali

by Yayasan Rama Sesana

Health Education for Low-Income Women in Bali

Project Report | Nov 15, 2013
Helmets on the Road . . . and in the Bedroom

By Dr. Luh Putu Upadisari (Dr. Sari) | YRS Founder and Director

Safe on the road and safe in the bedroom

While developments for our new clinic in Singaraja bubble away, YRS have been focusing our energies back at the Sanur clinic, as we continue spreading the word of our new sexual and reproductive health services and education program to the local market community.

After a generous donation of 200 helmets (for both adults and children) from a donor who has chosen to remain anonymous, YRS recently launched a two-month campaign (HELM) to highlight the importance of being safe and healthy, by wearing a helmet on the road and a helmet (condom) in the bedroom.

Every day, people not wearing helmets die in traffic-related accidents in Bali. And every day, people also die from HIV and AIDS, transmitted through unprotected sexual contact with an HIV-infected person. Helmets and condoms have similar functions: they are both a means of protection and aim to prevent adverse impacts from unsafe public behaviour.

The HELM campaign will use World AIDS Day, commemorated annually on 1^st December, as a platform to spread the message of HIV and AIDS, and remind the public about the dangers of risky behaviour. To increase public awareness of the importance of protecting our health and staying safe, YRS will promote and distribute the helmets and hundreds of condoms to communities around the Intaran Market in Sanur. Every Tuesday and Friday until the end of the year, clients who visit the YRS Sanur clinic for a sexual and reproductive health check-up will have the chance to win helmets in the daily giveaways, as a means to encourage the public to utilise our services and stay safe on the roads. We look forward to seeing an increase in the number of people accessing our services, as well as seeing members of the local community wearing their new helmets around town!

In other news, YRS Founder and Director Dr. Sari was invited to speak at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2013 in October, a major annual event that brings together hundreds of brilliant writers, performers, artists, musicians and visionaries in a world class literary event that encourages open-minded dialogue, transcending race, creed, gender and cultural divides. Dr. Sari was honoured to join other thought-provoking speakers on the “Life Blood” panel, to explore key issues facing women’s health globally today, and thoroughly enjoyed responding to the many questions from the audience.

We’d like to take this opportunity to once again thank you for supporting YRS through what has been an incredibly exciting year of change, expansion and personal growth. As we approach the end of the year, we hope that 2014 can be just as productive and inspiring as 2013.

YRS staff member, Widi, models the new helmet!

Ubud Readers and Writers Festival 2013

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Aug 13, 2013
"Wow...where to start?!"

By Dr. Luh Putu Upadisari (Dr. Sari) | YRS Founder and Director

Official Opening of YRS Health Clinic in Sanur

This year really has been a gigantic year for Yayasan Rama Sesana (YRS). The year begun with getting our expansion project off the ground and planning for our first clinic outside of the Badung market in Denpasar. The hard work of YRS staff and volunteers, and the amazing support of Mark Keatinge (Tropical Building Systems, PT Bale Gede) and members of the local Banjar, meant that the new women’s health clinic in Sanur was opened for services in April, with an official opening several weeks later. Click here to see photos of the vibrant opening ceremony, which was held by the local community.

Since this time, YRS staff have made several trips to Singaraja in Buleleng (north Bali), which is the next location in our expansion project. After finally being able to meet with the local Banjar and market management after delays associated with the Bali Governor election, we are very excited to be planning next steps in opening a YRS women’s health clinic at the Seririt Market.

This market is the second largest market in Buleleng, and is a major centre for community activity. It is a very strategic location for YRS as there are a variety of shops nearby, including a supermarket, and many teenagers, women and taxi drivers congregate in this area.

In July, YRS staff conducted some initial activities in order to continue gauging levels of interest in sexual and reproductive health services amongst the community, as well as developing existing networks and building relationships with the market community. Click here to see photos of our visit to Seririt Market.

During this visit, YRS staff provided medical health services to 158 people at the market, including market traders, labourers, market management, security, parking attendants as well as members of the surrounding community such as housewives, private sector employees, taxi drivers and beggars. These services included Pap smear examinations, STI and HIV testing as well as general public health services.

In addition to this, 218 people were reached through our free educational sessions, and YRS outreach staff disseminated 784 educational brochures on topics such as cervical and breast cancers, and voluntary HIV testing, as well as the distribution of 159 free condoms. The majority of people who received these materials subsequently came in for a medical check-up with YRS, with many enquiring about YRS’ next visit to the market so they don’t miss their routine check-up.

YRS have recently been given permission by the Seririt Market Management to use the Management-owned market building in order to carry out our medical services and health education activities at the market in the future. This news is extremely welcomed by YRS and motivates us to continue working hard in the coming months to achieve our project goals and ultimately, contribute to creating a healthy generation of women in north Bali.

Stay tuned to hear how we go!

YRS staff ready for Seririt Market, Singaraja!

YRS staff explain a cervical cancer brochure

YRS educational discussion at Seririt Market

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May 22, 2013
The Community Says YES!

By Dr. Luh Putu Upadisari (Dr. Sari) | YRS Founder and Director

YRS staff in front of the new Sanur clinic

We have just come out of a super busy few months and what a year it has been so far!

As we mentioned in our previous report, Yayasan Rama Sesana (YRS) kicked off 2013 with fine-tuning budgets and preparing for our first expansion to the Intaran Traditional Market in Sanur. As you see by the photos below, our clinic has finally been built and both the YRS staff and the local community are looking forward to holding our official opening to the public in June 2013!

While we are writing this report, myself and our Program Management Team are also preparing to meet with the local community leaders in Singaraja, Buleleng - the next location in which YRS will be expanding our services in 2014. We will be discussing the key sexual and reproductive health issues that women and men are experiencing in the region, existing services and how YRS can best network and be responsive to these issues through our clinical services and education program. We will also be preparing for the next meeting which will take place in the near future and will involve community leaders and members, representatives from other local health organisations and other key stakeholders.

During the last few months, we have also been lucky to acquire additional funding from local community groups, a small grant through AusAID (Australia's Development Program) and the Inspirasia Foundation. We also held our 5th Annual Fundraiser where we raised almost $7,000 with the support of local community members and businesses. Visit our website to read more about the event and see photos.

These additional funds mean that the target in this GlobalGiving project can now be lowered to $13,900 which will go continue to go towards YRS' Expansion Project, including staff costs, health brochures, training sessions, building costs for the Singaraja clinic and medical supplies.

We are so grateful for the support that we have seen, not only from you and Global Giving, but to the wider community. Once again, we thank you for being a part of this project and we welcome your ideas on how we can work together to attract wider support from our global community. If you haven't done so already, sign up to our Facebook and Twitter pages and keep up-to-date with the work of YRS.

We look forward to sharing our updates with you in the next report!

Examination room at the new Sanur clinic

YRS staff at the 5th Annual Fundraiser

YRS Outreach Worker speaks with a market vendor

Links:

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