Regenerating Rainforests

Meet Dewi, a midwife at our new program site in Beloyang Juoi, a remote village on the outskirts of BBBR. As a mother herself, Dewi knows the challenges of childbirth without access to medical care – and she’s committed to helping mothers have safe and healthy deliveries. When we first travelled to BBBR to explore the possibility of bringing health care to villages there, pregnancy and childbirth were dangerous and even life-threatening conditions. Now, with Dewi and X# other midwives and staff on duty, women don’t have to dread their deliveries anymore.  Just having access to care has lifted the spirits of the community as a whole.  Recently, Dewi even organized an ingenious way to prevent malaria throughout the village. Every three days, all the women get together, turn on some music, and clean the village from one side to the other. They sweep up plastic, leaves, and anything else that could hold water for mosquitos to breed in. After they're done, Dewi leads everyone in Zumba!

Even though Dewi's job title is midwife, she is so much more. She has been able to address health conditions that have been untreated until now, including tuberculosis, and advocate for women's health and safety with village leaders. As Dewi is able to improve health in the community and reduce maternal emergencies, it will relieve the pressure to go into the forest and cut down trees for money. Dewi is creating a healthier Beloyang Juoi in more ways than one.