JAMKHED SELF REFLECTION

Sofi Nur Fitria

Having an experience in Jamkhed Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP)
was becomes my greatest experience. I found it very useful for my future
because I learned so much things, a lot of things change my mindset about
public health medicine, and I had new spirit to do a good things for the
community health. I joined this residential course in India for 2 weeks from 8
until 21 December 2013 supported by Faculty of Medicine, University of
Brawijaya by the Human Professional Education Quality Improvement (HPEQ)
Project. There are 5 persons chosen for this program; they are Vardian
Mahardika, Fahimma, Takhta Khalasa, Ajend Dias P, and me.The program took
place in rural area India placed on Maharashtra District, one of the poorest
districts in India. CRHP was a NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) found by dr.
Rajanikant and Mabele Arole in 1970 and until now succeeded to empower 45
villages.
I learned a lot from Jamkhed CRHP about how to empower people and the
important of involving people to work together. Empowering people means that
we are increasing the self-esteem and self-confidence of the people. Making
them has dignity and ability to make change for their problem. Human beings,
regardless of their station in life have innate unlimited potential within themselves. People have been empowered through a process of discovery,
experimentation, trial and error, rerouting when necessary, and by being nondogmatic in sharing values and skills. Through these processes individuals and
communities have gained in self-esteem and self-confidence and have realized
that they have the capacity within themselves to determine their own lives.
The other important thing I learned there was that if we want to build a
sustainable project, we must done the project that emerges from the community
needs. We can call it Community Based Primary Health Care (CB-PHC).
Community Based Primary Health project means that we did not forced people to
do our project, but we solved the community problem because they need it.
Health is not a priority for the marginalized people struggle for survival. The
basic necessities of life such as food, water, and shelter are more important
priorities. Because of that non-medical intervention often made a greater impact
that medical intervention. Health was a complex matter that influenced by many
factors such as environment, economic, social culture, and nutrition. If we were
improved the environment, economic, social culture, and nutrition status we
were also improved the health status automaticly.
I also learned about the importance of making a good relationship with the
community. It can influenced people to accept the program and increase the
community participation.
It have been my pleasure inspired by dr. Shoba Arole, Mr. Jayesh, Mrs. Ratna, dr.
Patheker, Mr. Pandit, all the village health workers, mobile health teams and all
the people we met in Jamkhed. We also made a good relationship with the
internships (Alyssa, Lexy, Irene, Ani, Martin, Rohan, Richard, and Math). We could
learn a bit about the difference of american, british, India, and Indonesian habits.
I had fun time in Jamkhed and I missed it already.
Thanks for everything and Together we can do the Health for All.