UNVEILING THE REMARKABLE EXPEDITION: DELIVERING VITAL MEDICAL AID TO ULTRA-RURAL EAST INDONESIA’S REMOTE REGIONS WITH RESILIENCE AND DEDICATION.
Follow our arduous journey from Denpasar to the heart of East Indonesia’s ultra-rural regions, facing traffic jams, scorching sun, and ferry challenges, all to ensure the delivery of life-saving medical supplies for our #PrimaryMedicalCare and #ZeroMalaria programs.
Through every challenge and obstacle, we remain committed to our mission because the lives of those in East Indonesia’s ultra-rural regions depend on it. Our journey is a testament to the resilience and dedication of our team, and it’s a reminder that together, we can make a real difference.
The journey we embarked on between November 16th and 20th to reach the Fair Future and Kawan Baik Foundations base camp “Rumah Kambera” in Lanbanapu, East Sumba, with the #TruckOfLife deserves to be told in detail. Far from idyllic tales of sunrises and picturesque landscapes, it was a real ordeal lasting over four days. This experience reminded us of the vital importance of our mission in the ultra-rural regions of East Indonesia, where the #PrimaryMedicalCare and #ZeroMalaria programs are essential.
The journey began in Denpasar on November 16th, with the crucial goal of reaching the Tanjung Perak port in Surabaya. Our cargo, transported by the #TruckOfLife, included nearly a ton of medical equipment and medicines needed for the Foundation’s medical care programs in these remote regions. This was no ordinary trip; it was a life-saving mission.
Jalan di Jawa jauh dari sekedar jalan-jalan di taman. Kemacetan lalu lintas membuat kami terjebak selama lebih dari empat jam, termasuk tiga jam antara pukul 2 dan 4 pagi, dikelilingi lautan truk di tengah asap karbon monoksida. Pengalaman yang melelahkan ini menimbulkan kekhawatiran akan ketinggalan kapal feri penting yang dijadwalkan berangkat pada siang hari. Keharusan kami adalah mencapai pelabuhan sebelum jam 9 pagi.
We finally arrived at the Tanjung Perak port around 8 in the morning, exhausted but ahead of schedule. A brief break in a $12 hotel room allowed us to shower quickly and rest for 30 minutes. Alex had been driving non-stop for over 15 hours in challenging conditions. We were finally on the verge of boarding.
Di pelabuhan, saya dan Wahyu harus menghabiskan waktu dua jam memikirkan cara mendapatkan tiket yang sudah kami pesan dan bayar. Itu adalah perjalanan panik antar loket di bawah terik matahari untuk mendapatkan tiket berharga.
In the span of four days, our #TruckOfLife journeyed across challenging terrains, not just carrying tons of medical supplies, but bearing the promise of health and hope to East Sumba. Every kilometer covered marks our steadfast dedication to the #PrimaryMedicalCare program, ensuring that no distance is too great in our mission to reach and heal the most remote communities.” – Alex Wettstein, CEO and Founder, Fair Future Foundation
However, a significant obstacle arose when an official was overly zealous, asking us to unload the truck to weigh all the boxes completely. It’s worth noting that we carried nearly a ton of medical equipment and medicines. Keeping one’s composure in such situations is crucial. After tense discussions and negotiations, we could finally board the Egon ferry, a giant equivalent to more than two football fields.
We brought the maximum personal supplies to survive these three days: toiletries, water, extra food, spare clothes, sleeping bags, pillows, and more.
This ferry is, in reality, the only means of supplying vital goods to this remote region of Indonesia, one of the farthest from civilization. The ferry journey unfolded in extreme conditions, lasting nearly 70 hours. The heat was stifling, and living conditions were challenging. The food was basic and unappetizing, and the sanitary facilities were limited and shared by many. But these minor inconveniences became amusing anecdotes over time, and we adapted to the situation.
Hundreds of people shared a massive dormitory, sleeping on mattresses side by side. We made acquaintances, shared bits of our lives, and offered help. This ferry journey was like life in a small village, where, in the end, almost everyone knew each other.
We finally arrived at the Waingapu port on November 20th, around 4:30 pm, but we could only unload the truck from the Ferry Egon around 11 pm because we had to wait for the tide to rise. Ports in this region lack suitable docks for ferries of this size. We had to wait until the vehicles could finally disembark from this sea giant.
This journey was a stark reminder of the harsh reality faced by ultra-rural communities in East Indonesia. But it also reminded us of the crucial importance of our work and the need to continue providing vital medical care, preventing diseases, and supporting these vulnerable communities. We share this experience to generate understanding and interest among our readers because, through these journeys, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Thank you for joining our mission and becoming integral to this remarkable transformation.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu, November 20th, 2023.
Capturing moments from our trip to bring medical equipment and medications to Sumba
