This is one of the dukun paraji, or traditional birth attendants I met in Taroy. Part of the program here has been training women like this in safer delivery practice and providing sterile dukun kits. This was at one time the backbone of public health programs to reduce maternal mortality in poorer countries, but in recent years, research has shown that it doesn't seem to reduce the death rate. However, the fact of the matter is that in many of these villages there is NOONE else at all to help women give birth, so trying to reduce harmful practices, and protect good ones, is a just a little common sense.




Another contradiction - credit for your mobile phone is being sold here! In a place where most families do not even have toilets, there is now Telkomsel coverage - thanks to BPs plant opening and a new antenna being erected.