Gentle Birth in Haiti-Yayasan Bumi Sehat to Set Up Permanent Clinic

Bumi Sehat Bali

In June 2008 while visiting Bali with my family I made a visit to Yayasan Bumi Sehat.  I was under the impression we were visiting a birthing center, I was soon to find out that this clinic was so much more.  I was inspired by what I encountered at Bumi Sehat and by Robin Lim.  As it turns out the vision, generosity, and passion of this organization and her founders has extended itself to the people of Haiti.

I want to give you a little taste of the history behind this organization. In 1994 Robin Lim lived in Ubud in Bali, Indonesia where she began seeing pregnant women and their babies free of charge. As could only be expected as time went on and word spread more and more people came to see her. By 2006 “Yayasan Bumi Sehat” was in full effect. These days not only do they provide a space for women to have “peaceful, gentle births", (Indonesia has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Southeast Asia according to the World Health Organization) they work with the community in many other ways as well. In addition they provide general health services, capacity building, and community outreach. They are committed to working with and supporting the people in and around Ubud and of course at their center in Aceh, Indonesia.

It did not take long for the people of Bumi Sehat to respond to the emergency in Haiti.  According to the United Nations approximately 15% of the 63,000 pregnant women in the earthquake affected areas are at high risk for life threatening complications.  In addition for the 7,000 that will give birth within the next month the risk factors are even higher.  Though the earthquake has intensified the situation for women and children in Haiti the infant and maternal mortality rate before the crisis was the highest in the Western Hemisphere according to the United Nations. 

When I first learned that the midwives and other staff members from Bumi Sehat were heading to Haiti I was moved and instantly began spreading the word in hopes that I could do my part to help raise the necessary funds.  I have recently learned that these amazing women (and I am sure a few men) have made the decision to set up permanent clinic in Jacmel, Haiti, which is north of Port-au-Prince.  In a message sent out today February 2, 2010-they just received word yesterday that the Haitian government has granted them a license to operate and set up a maternal and child gentle birth clinic-permanently. 

In response to this organization which I hold dear to my heart (my grandmother is from Indonesia) I will share my favorite quote by Margaret Mead (I know its so often quoted but only because it is so true); “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” I don’t think I need to say much more than that other than Terima kasih banyak untuk semua yang anda lakukan!

References:
http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/news/pid/4712

For More Information:
www.bumisehatbali.org
http://bumisehathaiti.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-31-2010-bumi-sehat-team-arrived.html
www.amillionmothers.org

To Donate:
Bumi Sehat
http://www.sakthifoundation.org/haiti.htm
Allies for Trauma Relief toward the Haiti Effort
AFTR 501 ( C ) 3
25 Colby Street
Barre, VT 05641