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A Mothers Day on Mount Agung

12/5/2013

2 Comments

 
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Bringing offerings to the Village Temple
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Praying at Pura Puseh
Today we were reminded of the fragility of life for Balinese people living in the remote villages of north-east Bali.

At daybreak we joined a small family procession to our village high temple (Pura Puseh). Towering above us, Mount Agung glowed brighter than normal at sunrise, as today the Gods would descend and take the spirits of our young friend's wife and his unborn baby boy.

In the west we often take hospital care, doctors, nurses and specialists for granted. We expect the best care available for our wives, babies, children and ourselves, because it is accessible and we can (mostly) afford it.

Wayan was 20 years old when she married and later that year fell pregnant, her husband cared for her as well as any husband would. But when the birth day arrived, she was wisked away to the nearest hospital facility an hour away by car. During her labour she was struck with an asthma attack and stopped breathing. Sadly she passed away and subsequently their unborn baby boy also died still in his mother's womb.

Few people who come to dive here in north east Bali are aware that this area, (the furthest point from Denpasar in either direction) has the highest infant mortality rate in South-East Asia.

More mothers die in north Bali during child birth or pregnancy than in Libya, Iraq or Botswana!
The hospitals are few and far between, and the medical equipment they have is limited and mostly outdated. Getting trained medical staff is difficult, as few want to work in remote areas.


Today we witnessed Wayan and her baby son's spirits ascend to heaven. As the family placed offerings on the altars and the priest finished praying. Clouds soon began forming around the holy mountain's peak. Within half an hour the mountain was concealed by clouds and remained out of view for the rest of the day.

Please spare a thought when you are in these parts, perhaps bargaining for a cheaper dive guide, transport driver or room at your locally run dive resort. These people mostly do it tough, and all of them know how to make every rupiah count. One day....we hope, they may have the luxury of a hospital with modern equipment and well trained medical staff.

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Om Swastiastu Wayan dan anda Bayi
(Peace Be With You Wayan & your Baby)
2 Comments
ben walzinger
12/5/2013 11:57:02 am

unfortunately this is real life and it is the situation in this part of bali. time to get to the facility, lack of money, and the quality of medical services are the most important reason for this unbelievable situation.

one day ilu, who was and is cleaning your former house next to villa alba, fall down from the mango tree and had a broken leg.
she was rushed to kubu hospital.....but no real treatment.
the day after the incident komang from villa alba showed up at the house ( at this time i was still living there) and told me only that ilu will not come for cleaning for msome days. i aske wht is that and he told me the story.
i went to the family house were she was (one day after the incident) in tears when telling me that she had fallen down. she was pointing at her leg. but coversation was difficult.
after asking whether she had x-ray already her family said no.
so i rented a car and have somebody from the family accompany her to the hospital in amlapura. i cant remember how much money i gave but sufficient to cover all the costs.
the next day after early morning dive she was waiting for me already and showed me (proudly) the x-ray photos from the broken bone and she was smiling.
we are commited/obligated at least to people we know. unfortunaetly we can not help everybody in need.
i am afraid that the situation will not change fast.
bali's nothwast is changing but slowly in comparison with other regions.

Reply
Paula Johnson link
13/5/2013 09:08:56 am

Great post Jeff & Dawn...very heartfelt. It is devastating when these 'simple' western healthcare basics that we all take for granted just can't be provided for the beautiful people of Bali. Just breaks my heart. It is incomprehensible to those who do not witness this on a daily basis. Out of sight, out of mind for most. We can only hope that in the not too distant future things do change for these people. xx

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