On Thursday, 20 July 2023 yesterday; Pundi Sumatra in collaboration with PMI Bungo Regency held a blood group checking activity for the Suku Anak Dalam (SAD) community in Dwi Karya Bakti Village, Pelepat District, Bungo Regency, Jambi Province. This activity was also attended by the Chairman of PMI Bungo Regency, Dr Hj Verawaty Mashuri S.Pd.M.Pd.
Checking blood type is important to anticipate conditions in SAD that require transfusion or blood donation; as well as providing knowledge about complications that can be caused by receiving inappropriate blood.
With the support of the INKLUSI Programme - Estungkara; since mid-2022, the focus has been on empowering the SAD in this location in an effort to open up the provision of access to basic services, one of which is the basic health service aspect. The presence of the PMI team to the location in the blood group checking activity is also in that context, as well as providing awareness education related to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, vomiting, skin diseases that generally often plague the SAD community.
"A while ago, there was a resident who got vomiting. For fear of contracting it, other residents who were still healthy, immediately fled to the garden or forest. The tradition of avoiding the plague is indeed a culture that they call "besesandingon", but SAD residents must also be equipped with knowledge about the causes of the disease and how to prevent the disease from spreading. Therefore, this awareness activity was carried out, collaborating with UNJA Public Health Study Program, PMI and Public health center in Pelepat Bungo District," said Yori Sandi, as coordinator of the SUDUNG Pundi Sumatra Program.
The blood type examination carried out on the routine Integrated Health Center agenda was also attended by the sub-district health centre medical team who participated in providing services ranging from weighing, measuring head circumference, examining pregnant women, providing vitamins and at the same time distributing complementary foods (MPASI) in the form of biscuits, green bean porridge, and boiled eggs. The Integrated Health Center activity, which was attended by 35 mothers and their toddlers, went smoothly, and the SAD Integrated Health Center cadres who had been formed were also actively involved.
The blood type check and Integrated Health Center activities were also accompanied by the handover of 149 National Health Insurance cards from BPJS Bungo Health. The National Health Insurance card arrangement carried out by Pundi Sumatra for SAD residents in this settlement location is also inseparable from the support and cooperation of the Bungo Regency Social, Family Planning, P3A Office, which has conducted data collection and intense supervision, to ensure that SAD receive free health services as National Health Insurance recipients.
"Pundi Sumatra expresses its appreciation and gratitude for the support and cooperation of all parties who have participated in the success of this event," said Yori Sandi. He also expressed his pride for the collaboration that has been running and hopes that this positive momentum can be further enhanced in improving the quality of the health status of the SAD community and the surrounding community.
The activities of providing National Health Insurance certificates, blood type checks, and routine Integrated Health Center have proven how important collaboration and cooperation from various parties are to achieve common goals in improving the health and welfare of the community. Hopefully this success can be an inspiring example for other communities to actively participate in community development and empowerment.