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Listening to the Heartbeat of the World
 👋 Hello everyone, this is Alex, writing from Rumah Kambera in Lambanapu. How are you all? I chose "Listening to the Heartbeat of the World" as the theme for my latest story because here, every sound tells a story: the cough of a sick person, the clatter of a broken pump, or the silence of a village waiting for water.
Here in East Indonesia, listening offers a different experience. We don't just hear words; we also notice a persistent cough that has lasted for weeks, suggesting tuberculosis. We hear the dragging footsteps of a child weakened by malnutrition. We feel the silence in a village when a new case of malaria is announced.
Recently, we have faced many challenges. In Umalulu, teams are performing out-of-season malaria rapid tests and detecting positive cases. This indicates that the disease persists, even when we believe we are safe. Spraying insecticide on walls as part of vector control campaigns is essential; this preventative measure is vital for eliminating mosquitoes before they bite. Studies have demonstrated that this method significantly reduces malaria transmission.
 We observe families gathering around the billboards we've installed in the villages: "Recognise the symptoms, seek medical attention in time." Here, a delay, a misunderstanding, or an inappropriate response can have deadly consequences. Malaria, dengue fever, leprosy, tuberculosis… these are not just words; they are everyday realities.
We also donated over 250 million rupiah worth of medical equipment to RSUD Umbu Rara Meha hospital in Waingapu. Not to please the director, but to genuinely meet the staff's needs. Practical and vital actions. However, it's just a drop in the ocean.
Our community health workers, the Kawan Sehat Health Agents, treat approximately 1,000 patients each month. They work with limited resources: a thermometer, a few medications, their skills, and their courage. They know they can't wait for assistance from the city. They are present in the villages with the families. Without these health workers, nothing would be possible. Their role is similar to community-based primary healthcare, which has proven effective in similar settings.
 We also build water tanks, essential for combating disease and malnutrition by providing clean and safe water. Our field studies show that access to clean drinking water drastically reduces diarrheal diseases, one of the leading causes of mortality in rural areas.
But despite all this, we lack everything.
Medications, food, fuel, equipment—so many things. Just like us, the families in these remote rural areas lack everything every day. The situation is serious, certainly, but that is no reason to give up. We persevere. We make the most of what we have. We improvise. We fight.
Being attentive to life here also means recognising everything that is missing. But it also means acknowledging the incredible strength of these people, their dignity, their courage. That is what motivates us to continue. For 16 years, our foundation has been present in the field, by your side, for you.
We don't do anything ordinary: everything is exceptional, in the deepest sense of the word. We go beyond the limits of everyday life.
Thank you for being here, for listening to us. Because what we hear is also your voices, your echoes, your strength that resonates all the way here.
I sincerely greet you all.
Alex, for Fair Future - The 22nd of September 2025 |
