This clinic was constructed to provide health services in response to the increasing economic gap in underserved local communities. Bumi Sehat is a non-profit organization based in Bali. It was founded in 1995 in Indonesia and the Philippines.
We met Erna, an employee at the Bumi Sehat Clinic Ubud, and asked her several questions.
When did Bumi Sehat begin?
It all began in 1995, in a small house with a few midwives.
We did not have any lab equipment at the time. Our founder, Robin, is a Filipina American; when she moved here, she realized the need and decided she wanted to help the locals.
She built a clinic for women to come for free or by donation to have their check-ups and give birth.
All of our services are provided free or for a donation.
What kind of people come here?
We do not look at your background. Wherever you are from, or whatever your religion is, we do not judge. You come here because you need us. We can help and give you the support you need. Sometimes foreigners come here because we ask them for donations to subsidize our local people.
What are your facilities?
Our general clinic is located on the first floor.
We have physicians, nurses, and lab analysers on staff to do blood, urine, and STD tests. It is essential that they come here for regular checks during the pregnancy.
Our services for childbirth are open 24/7.
We are accessible not only to pregnant women but to anyone in need. We also have a new machine.
What does this machine do?
It detects the viral load in HIV patients, allowing us to determine the efficacy of the medication. Regarding the viral load, there are 5 machines to check the viral load of HIV Patients including Bumi Sehat. The cost of this machine is exorbitant, yet it was paid for by a German donor. We can use this to treat HIV-positive pregnant women. We had one mother come in. We tested her, and she was pregnant.
This machine is ideal because taking anti-retro-viral medication for at least six months during pregnancy reduces the risk of transmission to the baby.
HIV-positive moms can have HIV-negative babies.
That is why it is critical to come in early in pregnancy; the sooner we can check, the more probable it is that we can avoid a transfer. Our charitable organizations can be relied upon, and the work they perform is outstanding.
We are grateful that we have been able to assist so many mothers.
We collaborate with other hospitals if they know of any HIV-positive pregnant women and monitor the medication’s effectiveness. They will be referred here, as going to the hospital is pretty expensive.
Most HIV patients come from low-income families and live a low-risk lifestyle. They are often infected by their husbands.
It may be quite upsetting and stressful. This is why we have HIV counselors on staff to assist people in coping.
You are doing beautiful, important work here.
Thank you very much. Acupuncture, pediatric and general care, lab services, confidential HIV/AIDS testing, counseling, round-the-clock birthing services, and free ambulance services are all available.
How many newborns do you have per day?
Every day, we have one or two babies. Per month, forty to sixty people come here.
“We aim to avoid needless interventions, such as medication, if possible.”
That is why moms, as well as husbands and families, must plan ahead of time. We urge moms to come here for check-ups before giving birth so that they can confer with our midwives and plan their labours. We also provide the mothers with helpful hints and dietary guidance to help them stay healthy.
How do you prepare for something like this?
We ask them what kind of birth they desire and what kind of preparation they want. Then there are the free prenatal yoga classes.
The movements help the babies shift into the ideal birth position by increasing their strength and flexibility. Husbands are also welcome and will be trained to help their wives in all instances. If the woman panics, the husband must not panic; he must remain calm and prepared.
That is why we provide a childbirth class for both mom and dad.
Mom and dad get together to learn about pregnancy, birth, and nursing.
As a result, they are more confident. We also welcome families to attend if they want to learn about nursing. Not only will the husband monitor the procedure, but so will the rest of the family.
We teach the husband how to massage his wife and to prepare what mums require for meals, what moms enjoy drinking, aromatherapy, music, and so on. She will be treated like a queen. Because oxytocin levels are elevated during childbirth, it is critical that the mother feels comfortable and supported. Those love hormones will appear when you feel loved, and they will make the childbirth process easier.
However, when a mother feels stressed, unsupported, and anxious, the birthing process may take longer than expected. We also offer a shower so that moms can have warm water when they need it.
How many rooms are in your house?
Each of our two delivery rooms and one check-up room has two beds.
Mothers will be sent to the recovery room two hours after childbirth, and we have four treatment rooms, as well as one room designated for COVID-19 isolation. There is no VIP treatment for a single bed here; everyone is treated equally.
We have had a number of Indonesian celebrities give birth here, and they all received the same level of care and attention.
What is your procedure after the mother goes home?
We do follow-up calls.
We contact the mother for six months after the baby is born to ensure that she can successfully breastfeed her baby.
After that, they will be here for one to three days, depending on the condition of the moms and babies and whether they need to stay longer. If they are not ready to leave, they can stay as long as they need.
“Imagine a world where every human is born with an intact capacity to trust and love!”
– Ibu Robin Lim, 2011 –
How do you fund your fantastic work?
We are dependent entirely on donations, and we operate four clinics throughout Indonesia, not only in Bali. There is a clinic in Aceh, one in Papua, and one in Lombok.
So far, four clinics have been established, all of which are supported by donations. In addition, we operate two birthing clinics in the Philippines.
How is this place different from other places?
This has been the most loved spot in Bali to give birth naturally since the beginning of 1995.
“This is a place where a woman may receive holistic care” – a safe haven for mom, where midwives pray for her and care for her.
If a mom is a Christian, we usually sing “Amazing Grace” together during her birth.
We have our mantra for Hindus, and we also play Muslim music for Muslims.
We do not want moms to feel different, even if we are mostly Hindus here.
We respect you whether you are Muslim or Christian, or follow another religion.
We want you to feel loved.
Bumi Sehat Foundation International is a nonprofit organisation registered in the United States of America and
Indonesia.
Donations to Bumi Sehat are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law in accordance with U.S. IRS regulations.
Yayasan Bumi Sehat:
Jalan Nyuh Bulan, Banjar Nyuh Kuning,
Mas, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, 80571, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 (0) 361 970 002
Email: hello@bumisehat.org
Website: bumisehat.org
English