Rambangaru’s Health Agents Provide Care Where No Clinics or Doctors Are Present
In rural Sumba, Arce and Mensi treat hundreds each month using basic tools and a spirit of solidarity.
In the rural heart of Rambangaru, East Sumba, we met Mensi and Arce, two Kawan Sehat health agents whose dedication exemplifies what primary medical care truly entails. Working in villages without roads, clinics, or electricity, they are the first, and often the only line of care for hundreds of people each month.
Our visit with the Rambangaru Puskesmas team, led by its director, midwives, nurses, Dr Narni, and Ivon from Fair Future Foundation, was a day of learning and exchange. Erwin, our field coordinator from Kawan Baik Indonesia, presented the Primary Medical Care programme, which includes mobile kits, essential medicines, educational posters, and the Kawan Sehat digital app that connects each agent with professional medical support.
The stories shared by these two women were raw and authentic, treating infections, wounds, complicated births, and dengue fever deep in the savannah, often under the light of a torch. The Puskesmas staff listened, questioned, and responded with respect, offering advice and fostering collaboration through the sharing of data and ongoing communication.
We also presented new posters on alcohol abuse, passive smoking, nutrition, and clean water; tools to raise awareness and prevent disease before it spreads. Every participant, from the health agents to the doctors, signed them, a symbolic act of unity and shared responsibility.
In this room, science and humanity meet. It was not just a meeting but a reaffirmation that health is built through trust, knowledge, and community action. Together, we continue to act where no one else goes, to ensure care, dignity, and life for all.
We cordially invite all captivated by this story to explore our photo gallery, witness this extraordinary effort, and further engage with our mission through our Instagram account.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – the 6th of October, 2025