In one month, Bumi Sehat volunteer midwife Carly Facius crowd-funded $13,000 for the Merging Midwives project she launched with ECU midwifery associate professor Sara Bayes.
They have brought Ubud midwives Reena Roy and Nevi Kusraeni and clinic secretary Eka Yuliani to Perth to develop their learning and to share with local midwives and students.
“After working alongside Indonesian midwives for the past 18 months, I saw the incredible value of having access to continuing professional development like we have here in Australia,” Ms Facius said.
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READ NOW“The midwives on this project will be able to return to the clinic with a fresh view on midwifery care and be able to utilise newfound skills and knowledge.
“They will be able to share their experience with the other clinic midwives and the hundreds of visiting midwives and midwifery students.”
Ms Facius said the lack of availability of free, hygienic, safe and culturally respectful health care in Indonesia was a huge concern for child-bearing women and their families.
“Everything in Indonesia comes with a price tag and if the woman or family is unable to cover the costs of primary healthcare, there is often devastating health consequences or death of the mother or the baby,” she said.
“The difference with Bumi Sehat is that it’s all by donation services, so we don’t charge for anything.
“We provide health services to the poorest of the poor, we don’t turn anybody away, we’re open 24 hours and seven days a week and anybody can come and pay what they can afford.”
Last year 365 babies were born at the clinic, which Ms Facius said did not have obstetrics services or pain relief and was able to provide only “normal birth options”.
She said the Bumi Sehat midwives enjoyed visiting the Joondalup Health Campus and were surprised at the facilities available in the public health care system.
Reena Roy said it was important they were aware of the new technology and birthing options on hand.
“This is really good for |us to know about more |things that we don’t have in Indonesia,” she said.
Ms Facius said she was hoping to continue fundraising to bring a second group of midwives to Perth next year.
“We are (also) currently fundraising for a bil-blanket, a lifesaving piece of medical equipment to be used for jaundiced babies at our clinic in Ubud,” she said.
“We always welcome practical donations such as gloves, baby clothes, aloe vera gel, baby wraps and children’s vitamins.”
For more about the clinic, visit bumisehatfoundation.org.