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Kawan Sehat wound care in remote villages saves lives
Picture of The Day, Published the: November 11, 2025 - Rumah Kambera, Sumba Timur
Health agent cleaning and dressing a forearm cut in a rural house

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A trained agent cleans, dresses, and teaches so a cut does not become sepsis

This New Picture of the Day shows a Kawan Sehat health agent carefully cleaning a deep cut in a remote bamboo house, far from clinics. In such areas, a wound can allow bacteria from soil and skin to enter tissue and bloodstream, risking sepsis. Sepsis is life-threatening and requires urgent care; without transport, antibiotics, or fluids, the situation can become critical.

Primary Medical Care aims to break this dangerous chain of events. It begins with basic steps: irrigation with clean water or saline to reduce bacterial growth, careful debridement if necessary, application of sterile dressings, splinting to minimise tissue stress, and administration of pain relief to support healing. Our agents check for tetanus vaccinations, provide prophylaxis if necessary, educate families on dressing changes, and identify danger signs such as fever, redness, foul odour, pain, or restricted movement. For cases beyond our scope, we refer early and ensure follow-up. Prevention remains essential.

Entering our fourth year, Kawan Sehat agents treat 700-1,000 people monthly for issues such as cuts, burns, fevers, malaria, respiratory infections, dehydration, and maternal exhaustion. Early intervention prevents crises: a clean wound today prevents infection later, rapid malaria testing and artemisinin avert severe anaemia, and handwashing with safe water reduces diarrhoeal diseases.

What you see in this picture is not improvisation; it’s a protocol tailored to reality. Our agents train extensively, practise skills, restock kits, and document each case. By the start of 2026, we plan to expand our team by 10 more agents to ensure no village has to wait. This is slow, meticulous work, done house by house, patient by patient. It’s the line between a scar and a funeral.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every Kawan Sehat agent for your steady hands and sharp minds. This programme saves lives through your unwavering commitment to bring medicine where it’s needed most, transforming absence into presence.

Today, the 11th of November 2025 – Alex Wettstein

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The latest 8 Pictures of the Day

Our teams capture the essence of our work in these galleries directly from the field. The photos showcase our medical care, clean water initiatives, and how we’re making a difference in remote communities.

Kawan Sehat agents in training session led by Fair Future Foundation

Preventing sepsis in remote wound care

  1. Wash hands with clean water and soap for 20 seconds before touching anything. If water isn't available, use alcohol gel containing at least 60 per cent alcohol.
  2. Rinse the wound with clean water or saline for several minutes. High-volume irrigation reduces bacterial load and debris.
  3. Avoid using river water or containers with cloudy water. If necessary, boil and cool the water first. Do not use traditional powders or ash.
  4. Gently remove visible dirt and dead tissue with sterile gauze or clean tweezers. Do not scrape healthy skin.
  5. Control bleeding by applying firm, direct pressure for 10 minutes. Keep the limb raised to slow bleeding and reduce swelling.
  6. Clean the skin surrounding the wound with antiseptics, such as povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine. Do not pour antiseptic into deep tissue.
  7. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment if indicated. Avoid heavy layers that trap moisture and delay healing.
  8. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing or clean cloth. Use a non-stick pad for deep cuts. Secure it with tape without constricting tissue.
  9. Keep the wound dry for 24 to 48 hours. Change the dressing daily or sooner if it is wet or dirty. Wash hands before and after dressing.
  10. Watch for warning signs such as fever, spreading redness, swelling, foul smell, severe pain, or reduced movement.
  11. Check the tetanus status. If it is unknown or more than ten years since vaccination, seek a booster shot. For dirty wounds, the timer may be shorter.
  12. Provide pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if there are no contraindications. Proper pain management supports healing.
  13. Do not close deep, dirty, or puncture wounds in the field. Leave them open, clean them repeatedly, and seek medical review.
  14. Stay well-hydrated and eat nutritious food. Good nutrition and clean water support immunity and healing and help prevent complications.
  15. Seek urgent medical attention if the wound is deep, located on the hand or face, involves tendons or bones, or if signs of sepsis develop.
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