In Kabanda, Ema and Erwin forge a frontline health partnership where no road can deliver care.
Reaching patients on foot and by 4×4, they provide lifesaving treatments in extreme isolation.
In Kabanda, a small village in East Sumba, medical care is challenging. Access requires hours of walking or a 4 x 4 vehicle like the Truck of Life. Here lives Ema Konga Naha, a Kawan Sehat health agent, transforming survival from luck to support.
For over three years, Ema has been Kabanda’s only healthcare provider. With no nearby clinic, she is the primary source of care, treating infections and guiding preventive health. Her red medical backpack symbolises trust. This week, Erwin—Fair Future’s MediRider—arrives to restock supplies and review cases, ensuring no detail is overlooked. Their collaboration involves discussing medication usage, checking inventories, and identifying gaps. New treatments are added based on needs. The Kawan Sehat app tracks every case, while handwritten notes serve as backups due to unreliable electricity.
Patients arrive with fevers, injuries, or chronic pain. Ema and Erwin don’t pause. Together, they provide treatment, advice, and care instructions. For these families, the encounter is reassurance that someone cares. In places like Kabanda, healthcare is resilience in action. Without Ema and Erwin, illnesses would go untreated. Thanks to them and the support of Fair Future and Kawan Baik, isolated villages remain connected by compassion.
Technical and Medical Insights:
Ema’s role is pivotal in Primary Medical Care, especially in remote areas, promoting health and preventing disease. Access to preventive measures can reduce disease burdens in communities where outbreaks may go unchecked. Her collaboration with Erwin integrates technology and traditional methods. The Kawan Sehat app digitises records for precise tracking and future reference, while handwritten documentation provides a backup in areas with unreliable connectivity.
The supplies reflect essential medical care elements. Painkillers and antibiotics address immediate issues, while wound care kits prevent infections. Kabanda’s lack of advanced instruments is met with first-line response strategies emphasising education and self-care. By blending technology, essential supplies, and compassion, Fair Future and Kawan Baik Indonesia create a network of hope. Their work in East Sumba prioritises empathic connection over clinical intervention, turning each visit into community support and healthcare resilience.
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 – May the 6th 2025
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