When this life is like sheets dimensional display of a series of photos, both black and white or colour. Then Agnes Mary Magdalene Sinaga figure photo, comes in a different colour, a specific, sharp and impressive. The 27-year-old girl as a doctor on duty decided Employees Variable Center to Kampung Mumugu, District Suru-Suru, Asmat, Papua. She left her parents, sister, lover in the capital city of Jakarta to dedicate themselves to a remote village in the middle of the wilderness. Mumugu is a village that suddenly became so well known, because the locals totalling about 500 people, mostly suffering from leprosy. This contagious disease does not make Agnes retreat, she establishes herself as a medical officer at the same time social activist who teaches children Similarly Mumugu reading, writing and singing.
Mumugu village can be reached by driving a speed boat in the eight-hour journey from the capital city of Agats. Fear of contracting leprosy causes people reluctant to visit this village. Residents who settled in this place survive from the earth and nature, is sago and fish. High rainfall as a result of the breadth of the rainforest in the Asmat region meet local needs for water and sanitation. Some 90 houses -Assistance people of Asmat district government and Nduga Regency standing in a township. There is also the customary -- jew - which serves to maintain communal life in this village also stood by the "magnificent". In this village there are seven stalls, a church, rectory house, and the Inpatient Health Center. Facilities can be said very limited life, community service officers who decided to serve in Kampung Mumugu be steel-minded figure who works not on the basis of earning alone.
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April 2014
11:00 AM
Is the first day I set foot in Kampung Mumugu II, Boundary Stone, on a small dock made of iron wood boards with a width of two meters, I was stunned. Initially I thought the population of this village very solid, because there were so many people gathered together as the pickup for this arrival. They stood looking at her arrival is foreign, their stature strapping, with jet skin and curly hair. I came with Mantri Zaenal, Mantri Agus, Midwives and Nurse Delfi Novi to bring along groceries and cookware that has been packed neatly into cartons. Cartons looked mounting, I hope one of the "pickup" will extend a hand to bear. However, that hope ended with a hollow, nobody says, gaze was even very sharp, far from friendship. Either what comes to their minds by the arrival of this, maybe they know, that we are the local health authorities, or they thought we were traders who intend to open a kiosk in the village. Shortly thereafter, appeared a middle-aged man with a height of about 150cm and small-boned. He may be curious with the arrival of this, who we are? Before curiosity grew, I quickly reached over and introduced himself.
"Father, introduce my name is Agnes, a doctor assigned starting today in Kampung Mumugu. I along with the staff, orderlies Zaenal, Mantri Agus, Midwives and Nurse Delfi Novi. We thank the father of our coming here," I began while introducing the staff were standing right next to the right and left.
With a little curt and sounds of the men was welcomed helping hand me, holding my hand tightly, and introduced themselves. "Yes, I am Daniel Entertaining clients, the leader in Mumugu Boundary Stone. You are good people working here yeah, watch out if you do not serve us well later my arrows you ".
This threat made me snapped, I do not think the inaugural speech will be like this. While people are crowding it say while pointing a finger, "You are not good". That remark seemed palms hit right in my face, after a long journey Jakarta, Papua, Agats, and Mumugu in the context of humanitarian work, presumably so that beginners should remark I heard. The next words spoken in a language I did not understand, but the pressure and it remains unfriendly gaze. Why the locals are not pleased with the arrival of this?
"Yes, already, to Community Health Centre there, look out if we want medical treatment you have just now starting means I'll expel you people of this village," Daniel, the indigenous leader again threatened, my guts immediately shrunk, as the butter melts under the heat, I glanced at the four faces of the staff, the expression of the faces were showing the same thing. Deep in my heart whispered to the Creator, God bless us in this new place ....
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14:00 PM
The distance from the pier to Mumugu taken approximately 15 minutes by foot, the structure of land in this village mushy rock, free-roaming pets and dispose of "mines" along the way. Arriving at the Community Health Center I stood transfixed swallowed, this is the conditions of Health Center where I should be tasked once settled? The building is similar to landfills, the entire building 20 x 50 meters surrounded by woodland and wild grass that grows higher and higher. Shrubby forest in front of the health centre, no houses at all, at the rear of the building grow lush virgin forest. Secretly I complained, so poor this fate, but I tried to be quiet. There are no other Community Health Centres except these buildings, health facilities are basically unfit as a place to stay and a place of health services.
Mantri Zaenal, Mantri Agus, Midwives and Nurse Delfi Novi looked exhausted, because of the long journey and the additional work transporting goods. Nobody that we know at this point, who can help clean up the room for a decent break when night falls? After a silence for some time until the sweat dries, I resolve to clean the Health Centre with energy left, "Let's clean the inside of the Health Center, tomorrow we enlist the help of the public to cut the grass on the side and front of the Health Center," a job that is very heavy for The first day at the Health Center, but Do we have any other options before darkness arrives?
For about three hours we were together cleaning Health Center, from the page to the inside. For a while we agreed to stay at the Health Centre by utilizing existing room. The house doctor and two nurses home coupling has been there, but the facilities in it are not yet available. The light bulb does not appear at all, nights will grow dark without light. Neither of us had thought to bring along a mattress for bedding, we agreed to lay carpeted plastic which we bought for $ 150 thousand in the store.
After the Health Center looks neater, remote from the landfill, I paused a moment stroking his chest. There was a long series of words that are stacked correctly as a complaint, but I choose to remain silent. Five immigrants settle in the middle of the wilderness, far from their parents, away from the hustle-bustle of the city, with no cell phone signal, except for satellite phones function at a cost of Rp. 20.000.- per minute. I believe four staff feel the same way, but it was too late for lamented. One thing that must be done is to determine the attitude, the solution to the situation entirely unimaginable.
Health Center looks bright, although there are still many parts that should be styled. And suddenly the stomach to be so hungry at lunch are long gone. Delfi, accompanying her husband volunteer midwives, paramedics Agus to this kampong immediately cook boiled noodles. A simple dish that we eat with relish while sitting on the floor mats on board the newly cleared. "People in this village seems to not trust and do not like about our presence in this place, but it was too late to retreat. Are we going to give up here? "I asked.
"Not", said the four people on staff.
I was face to face them one by one, trying to read if there are doubts blew. I was relieved, because nobody showed attitude to retreat, withdraw the decision to serve in this distant village. "Not easy to gain the trust of society, for that we have to prove with good service, pick up the ball. Never refuse a patient, do not give the rate to anyone, both migrants and society. We should not ask for payment. Delfi, although you were volunteers here nor paid, but I will try so that you gain a memorandum of duty. One thing, do not ever give up, do the job wholeheartedly will reduce the burden of the task itself. God will open the door sustenance to people who work with the heart. We are brothers, although I apply as a leader, but I was the oldest brother. If anyone objected to my performance with no tolerance at all, I will resign. But if you agree with what you did let us work together, "I have to say to answer the local community attitudes and speech this afternoon on the dock.
The next day, the first job for the public health service Mumugu walk. Before conducting debut, I invite four people on staff to pray. We pause for a moment ask the Creator, hopefully the day's activities can be run well. At 07:00 AM, the entire health centre staff was ready with uniforms. Me and Daniel Entertaining clients had an appointment to talk about the performance of medical personnel in this health centre. Clockwise moves with certainty show at 08.00 AM, but the indigenous leader did not come. I still wait up to two hours into the future, at 10:00 AM Daniel Entertaining clients ended up at the Health Centre. He was not alone, he came with more than 30 others.
Health Center page thatched palm leaves, quite spacious as a meeting place. On the page that I and the staff of Health began introduces himself. "Thanks to the presence of the fathers of all, starting from today I along with four official staff on duty as a medic at the Center for Public Health is. If there are people who suffer from illness or mothers to give birth, please seek treatment, we will serve with all pleasure, preparing for 24 hours each day. I promise not to leave the place early in the task except when delivering a report in the Capital District ". Indigenous leader was silent standing beside me.
"We
sincerely hope that the community can accept our arrival, we came with good
intentions to help and heal people who are almost all suffering from leprosy. We
will perform data collection from house to house to find out exactly how many
people and how many were suffering from leprosy, "I looked at the face of
the people present, a look that was not as sharp as yesterday when it meets for
the first in the dock. "I
also promise to teach the children in the village to read and write. In
the evening I invite people to watch together in the yard ".
Daniel Entertaining clients translate my words in the local language. I looked back at the faces, the expression enough to say, they understand and accept our arrival. Deep down, slowly I give thanks, "Thank God, the first day at the job site goes well, the community was able to accept the arrival of this"
__
The following day after the meeting, people started coming to health centres for treatment, although the numbers are relatively small. Various attitude of rejection appear, the words being invective always result in galling. While patients consider drug that we provide as a poison which resulted in death of the patient. We tried to be patient and remain patient adapt to the attitude of people's daily lives. Perhaps not all people believe our presence is in charge, but I should still be thankful. The number of patients is relatively little evidence starters, that this presence could eventually accepted. We strive to provide services to local residents as much as possible, in addition to routine treatment at the health centre, we also visiting from house to house them to do the same. The next day, the atmosphere in the clinic to a more lively, children aged 4 years and above who initially did not know how to read and sing, every afternoon finally came to the health centre to learn to read, sing, and dance. The days I spent in the task and togetherness within the local community. Although all the formal and informal task that we were not comparable to wages received. I know about the salary cut of up to half. One thing more pathetic, the four staff on duty gladly, already four months of no salary at all. The reason that we received is that the disbursement of funds is still in the 'constraints' and' let’s go away ".
What is the meaning of the word 'let’s go away'?
Although the salary cut and not paid, we remain consistent with the pledge to the community. Treatment and community assistance is still running every day. At some point, the medical staff salaries to be paid? Until the salary was paid we still have to work, serve at once to build public trust. Status Health Centre is an outpatient, operating budgets for consumption are not available. However, we do not reject patients who come to stay. We contribute to the patient's consumption of dairy consumption in the home. We also share the school biscuits to small children are present and prepare the coffee or sweet tea for fathers or mothers who came regularly to take medication every day leprosy at the health centre. Although there are those who behave jute, public trust in us is getting better, the attitude of the people even better than we imagined. Quite often people come to bring vegetables and hunting results are captured in the woods. Vegetables and hunted it was given freely, either because give relationship and receive continuing intertwined, eventually we became friends then appointed as indigenous children.
__
Currently we became very busy with the routine of daily treatments, patients present with a variety of complaints, rotting sores on the feet, malaria, respiratory tract infections and hernia. I always emphasize to the staff that we work with the heart. Do not worry about the patient's condition is the worst though, they serve like we serve both biological parents. The presence of patients in health centres make our faces funnier, that presence means that public confidence in the performance of medical personnel at the Health Centre is growing. Belief is not an easy thing to come by. Invective and accusations, that the drugs we give is poison had never again heard.
As the days passed, turned into weeks turned into months anyway. Unwittingly we had served six months in Mumugu, the community is getting to know and love us. Many things that we have done, helping mothers give birth, with the patient taking medication, some people refer patients to the City Hospital for an appendectomy, Mumugu teach children reading, singing, and dancing. Every afternoon atmosphere at the Health Centre to be crowded, because the boisterous voices of children singing and dancing, the night we again gathered to watch together. I no longer need to complain, because the attitude of the people less friendly or verbal abuse from patients. The journey is long and this hard work does not end in vain. A sense of calm in the heart, because it struck me that the communities around the job site cherish our presence in this village. Some people are still nevertheless showed hostility, is not a significant problem. An impossible thing, that the presence of someone somewhere will be accepted throughout society, without exception.
Deep down, I really want mom to hear and see everything I've done in this village. "Mom, I've done something good, although we must deal with the mud, out of the woods, across the river, I'm not concerned with all these difficulties. My goal one, I want people in this village are healthy and cured of leprosy. Mom, pray for me, I hope everything I do can be a story worth telling. "
In silence I remember coming back a lover who was waiting, a distance stretched so far as if unaddressed. I also say to myself, as if she were dealing with the people I love, "One of the things that drives arrival to Papua is because of you, is there going to correct distance apart or even more eternal memory indissolubility? The days began with a bitter, bitter when you are not there at this point. However, bitter just a different time when finally tasted sweet. We finally understood what it meant to lose, "I have received your application for a day that has been set to be confirmed as husband and wife, to live together for better or worse until death parted. The distance was not ever become a hindrance, even unite.
Duties as a doctor Employees Variable due to expire in July 2015, there is a very deep desire to continue the task in this village, so that the whole community Mumugu free from leprosy. However, I have to go back to Jakarta. My sweetheart did not promise me longer-term assignments, although this task is making me proud, marriage has been prepared in August 2015. I had to choose marriage or this noble task, I might not get both. May God sees all, later there will be a Variable Employee doctor who will continue medical services in this village, so I can go back to Jakarta, given Mumugu life, and continue to live in peace.
Daniel Entertaining clients translate my words in the local language. I looked back at the faces, the expression enough to say, they understand and accept our arrival. Deep down, slowly I give thanks, "Thank God, the first day at the job site goes well, the community was able to accept the arrival of this"
__
The following day after the meeting, people started coming to health centres for treatment, although the numbers are relatively small. Various attitude of rejection appear, the words being invective always result in galling. While patients consider drug that we provide as a poison which resulted in death of the patient. We tried to be patient and remain patient adapt to the attitude of people's daily lives. Perhaps not all people believe our presence is in charge, but I should still be thankful. The number of patients is relatively little evidence starters, that this presence could eventually accepted. We strive to provide services to local residents as much as possible, in addition to routine treatment at the health centre, we also visiting from house to house them to do the same. The next day, the atmosphere in the clinic to a more lively, children aged 4 years and above who initially did not know how to read and sing, every afternoon finally came to the health centre to learn to read, sing, and dance. The days I spent in the task and togetherness within the local community. Although all the formal and informal task that we were not comparable to wages received. I know about the salary cut of up to half. One thing more pathetic, the four staff on duty gladly, already four months of no salary at all. The reason that we received is that the disbursement of funds is still in the 'constraints' and' let’s go away ".
What is the meaning of the word 'let’s go away'?
Although the salary cut and not paid, we remain consistent with the pledge to the community. Treatment and community assistance is still running every day. At some point, the medical staff salaries to be paid? Until the salary was paid we still have to work, serve at once to build public trust. Status Health Centre is an outpatient, operating budgets for consumption are not available. However, we do not reject patients who come to stay. We contribute to the patient's consumption of dairy consumption in the home. We also share the school biscuits to small children are present and prepare the coffee or sweet tea for fathers or mothers who came regularly to take medication every day leprosy at the health centre. Although there are those who behave jute, public trust in us is getting better, the attitude of the people even better than we imagined. Quite often people come to bring vegetables and hunting results are captured in the woods. Vegetables and hunted it was given freely, either because give relationship and receive continuing intertwined, eventually we became friends then appointed as indigenous children.
__
Currently we became very busy with the routine of daily treatments, patients present with a variety of complaints, rotting sores on the feet, malaria, respiratory tract infections and hernia. I always emphasize to the staff that we work with the heart. Do not worry about the patient's condition is the worst though, they serve like we serve both biological parents. The presence of patients in health centres make our faces funnier, that presence means that public confidence in the performance of medical personnel at the Health Centre is growing. Belief is not an easy thing to come by. Invective and accusations, that the drugs we give is poison had never again heard.
As the days passed, turned into weeks turned into months anyway. Unwittingly we had served six months in Mumugu, the community is getting to know and love us. Many things that we have done, helping mothers give birth, with the patient taking medication, some people refer patients to the City Hospital for an appendectomy, Mumugu teach children reading, singing, and dancing. Every afternoon atmosphere at the Health Centre to be crowded, because the boisterous voices of children singing and dancing, the night we again gathered to watch together. I no longer need to complain, because the attitude of the people less friendly or verbal abuse from patients. The journey is long and this hard work does not end in vain. A sense of calm in the heart, because it struck me that the communities around the job site cherish our presence in this village. Some people are still nevertheless showed hostility, is not a significant problem. An impossible thing, that the presence of someone somewhere will be accepted throughout society, without exception.
Deep down, I really want mom to hear and see everything I've done in this village. "Mom, I've done something good, although we must deal with the mud, out of the woods, across the river, I'm not concerned with all these difficulties. My goal one, I want people in this village are healthy and cured of leprosy. Mom, pray for me, I hope everything I do can be a story worth telling. "
In silence I remember coming back a lover who was waiting, a distance stretched so far as if unaddressed. I also say to myself, as if she were dealing with the people I love, "One of the things that drives arrival to Papua is because of you, is there going to correct distance apart or even more eternal memory indissolubility? The days began with a bitter, bitter when you are not there at this point. However, bitter just a different time when finally tasted sweet. We finally understood what it meant to lose, "I have received your application for a day that has been set to be confirmed as husband and wife, to live together for better or worse until death parted. The distance was not ever become a hindrance, even unite.
Duties as a doctor Employees Variable due to expire in July 2015, there is a very deep desire to continue the task in this village, so that the whole community Mumugu free from leprosy. However, I have to go back to Jakarta. My sweetheart did not promise me longer-term assignments, although this task is making me proud, marriage has been prepared in August 2015. I had to choose marriage or this noble task, I might not get both. May God sees all, later there will be a Variable Employee doctor who will continue medical services in this village, so I can go back to Jakarta, given Mumugu life, and continue to live in peace.
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