| Yayasan
Pembangunan Sumber Daya Manusia, Bina Insani, Indonesia
Objective
To enhance knowledge and
foster communication on reproductive health matters among rural community
in order to improve the health status and quality of life of the rural
poor.
Scope
Established in 1982 in the
city of Pematang Siantor, Bina Insani has helped to develop the community
through various social, economic, health and legal education interventions.
As an extension of their services to the people, the organization initiated
reproductive health activities in 1994, directed at couples and their
children.
Background
Bina Insani is a rural development
NGO in Indonesia, servicing the rural Batak community, a relatively
low socio-economic group in the northern part of Sumatra. Although the
early days of organization were different because of limited resources
for activities, the perseverance and hard work of the founders and staff
of Bina Insani paid off. Over the years many developmental interventions
were introduced and those not only helped improve the living conditions
of the people but have also empowered it. Further observations by the
staff and health complaints from the community particularly where reproductive
health was concerned, led to Bina Insani initiative on reproductive
health education programs in 1994. Implementation of activities was
carried out with the Indonesian Family Planning Association.
Main Activities
While Bina Insani had already
taken action on other initiatives to serve the rural community, the
activities that follow will describe the work in reproductive health.
- Regular training workshop
on RH issues and family relationship workshops were organized separately
for women, men and adolescent. From April 1994 to November 1996, a
total of 461 women, 196 men and 87 youths had attended the workshop
sessions.
- Pap smear testing. Women
who attended the education programs and who volunteered for Pap smear
test were referred to a servicing clinic for the procedures. Bina
Insani staff document the results and informed the women likewise.
From April 1996 to July 1996, a total of 347 pap smear were taken.
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Evaluation
Findings.
From the internal evaluation
conducted 32 months after the education initiate has began (April 1994),
the assessment has revealed that same changes in behavior relating to
RH issues has taken place, family relationships are better and knowledge
in STD/HIV and Pap smear has increased.
Management Features
Strategy:
The RH education program of
Bina Insani has used effective strategies (creating social acceptance,
providing culturally sensitive programs; meeting other needs of the community;
involving the community have contributed to program success. The strategies
can certainly serve as a guide for other agencies.
Mobilizing Resource and
support: IPPA of Medan assisted in the preparation of the curriculum
as well as in facilitating the workshops.
The support of the village
heads and church leaders were sought through advocacy and dialogues.
Currently, the church supports the program by informing the congregation
about the training workshops and encourage them to participate.
Human Resource Management:
Experienced community development
staff are provided RH education through literature, update sharing of
knowledge sessions and received additional exposure through attending
seminars organized by other NGOs.
The desire to assist the
rural population to improve their living conditions and the satisfaction
of being able to participate in decision-making and create innovations
are among the various reasons for staff commitment.
Leadership:
Bina Insani approach for
its staff to be responsible for the successful implementation of the
programs has contributed to the dedication and a sense of autonomy and
ownership of the organization activities.
Mobilizing volunteers in
each village to assist in managing projects at the grassroots level,
help to maintain regular contact with the community. This is a strategy
adopted by Bina Insani to overcome regular visits to the sites due to
distance.
Bina Insani has proven that
it is feasible for a non-health NGO to provide RH education to an entire
community. The program has broken cultural taboos on sexuality which
in time will no longer be sensitive a subject and in turn, would facilitate
efforts to improve peoples' RH status.
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