A full day of primary medical care strengthens prevention and treatment in rural areas.
Malaria, tuberculosis, and vaccination were at the heart of this vital health mission.
Veronika and the Fair Future team treating villagers during a primary medical day
In places where access to healthcare is nearly nonexistent, every diagnosis, every vaccine, every conversation can change the course of someone’s life
On March 20, in Hudumburung, a remote village near Kawangu, East Sumba, Fair Future organized a full day of Primary Medical Care to address pressing health challenges. Operating from sunrise until late afternoon, a committed team of 30 to 35 individuals—comprising health professionals, doctors, burses, field coordinators, and local volunteers—attended to the needs of over 150 patients.
The primary mission was to detect and treat cases of malaria and tuberculosis, two prevalent and lethal diseases in the area, known to impact public health significantly. Using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), our teams efficiently diagnosed numerous malaria cases. It’s important to mention that distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets to families without them significantly bolsters prevention efforts. Concurrently, we conducted screenings for tuberculosis, a highly infectious respiratory disease that spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Vaccinations were pivotal in our efforts, with around twenty children aged five and under receiving vaccines. Vaccinations are a critical preventive measure, safeguarding against various pediatric diseases and contributing to community-wide immunity. The children, although sometimes hesitant, gained protection essential for their health.
Veronika, a Kawan Sehat Health Agent and a familiar face from our documentary “A Day in My Life,” proved invaluable in this endeavour. Her intimate community knowledge and compassion enabled us to prioritize the most vulnerable populations: the elderly with chronic ailments, children presenting infections or fevers, and families in urgent need of medical attention. Her dedication exemplifies the essence of our mission for Primary Medical Care.
The distribution of essential medicines- including antibiotics, antipyretics, wound care supplies, and antiparasitic medications- is vital for community health care. Thanks to Rotary’s generous donations, we can address various health problems and promote lasting well-being. This support is crucial for maintaining public health since these medicines help manage infections, reduce fever, treat wounds, and control parasitic diseases—all essential for community well-being and epidemic prevention. These contributions highlight the impact of philanthropic efforts in the health sector.
Education and prevention underpinned our efforts. We exhibited nine informative posters, engaging community members in discussions on malaria prevention, waste management, tobacco hazards, alcohol risks, or balanced nutrition. The objective was to empower residents with knowledge to manage and maintain their health proactively
The day’s activities transcended medical treatment; they epitomized a shared humanitarian mission. It was a day of empathy and connection, where health care became not just an act of medicine but an endeavor of solidarity and empowerment.
Today, March, the 30th, 2025 – Alex Wettstein
List of Related Organizations with Hyperlinks
- Last Mile Health — Trains frontline health workers and expands healthcare to the world’s most remote communities, just like Fair Future does in Indonesia.
- Doctors Without Borders — Delivers urgent medical aid in areas affected by crises, where access to healthcare is extremely limited or nonexistent.
- Rotary International — A committed partner in Fair Future’s programs, supporting malaria prevention, clean water, and solar energy for remote villages.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Provides essential data and guidance on infectious disease control, especially malaria, TB, and child vaccination.
- VillageReach — Innovates to close the healthcare delivery gap for last-mile communities by improving supply chains and health access.
- Malaria Consortium — Specializes in comprehensive malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programs across low-resource settings.
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — Increases access to immunization in low-income countries, reducing child mortality and strengthening public health.
- Fair Future Foundation — Swiss-based NGO providing essential medical care, education, clean water, and energy access in ultra-rural Indonesia.
