Women's impetus in community and health development
Roestam, K.S.
World Health Forum 15(1): 16-18
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-2432 PMID: 8141972 Document Number: 277740
Women in Indonesia are playing an increasingly large part in economic activity and community development, as well as having significant beneficial impact on the nation's health, most notably, perhaps, by helping to secure financial resources. The paper describes some of the ways in which women are working to improve the well-being of the Indonesian people. These include community development projects, where women are encouraged to sell handicrafts and other skills in local markets, the creation of integrated health posts in hamlets, villages and neighbourhoods, and programmes to eliminate illiteracy. Specific programmes include, Dharma Wanita, an organization of the wives of civil servants, which aims to promote health and disease prevention; and Dana sehat, a village-based health insurance and care scheme; and village polyclinics where women can give birth, and which are maintained, managed and financed by local women's organizations. The paper concludes that women, acting individually, in small groups or through major NGOs, now play a vital role in the development of health care in Indonesia.