CENTRAL KALIMANTAN —-— That afternoon, Tuesday (11/11/2025), Siti Solikatin (29) was happily cradling her second son. Solikatin is one of the beneficiaries of the Healthy Area Program in Jaya Makmur Village, Katingan Kuala Subdistrict, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, which has been running since May 2025.
Over the past few months since the Healthy Zone Program began, Solikatin has attended Pregnant Women’s Classes, received Nutrition Packages, and as a recipient of healthy toilet assistance from the collaborative program between the Free Health Services (LKC) Dompet Dhuafa and PT Pagatan Usaha Makmur (PUM).
In the past, the river was everything to Solikatin. It was where she washed clothes, bathed, and even relieved herself. Even during her first pregnancy, she still had to go down to the riverbank, waiting for the klotok boats to pass or the fishmongers to leave before she could continue her activities.
Nights were even more difficult. Every time she wanted to go to the river, she had to wake up her husband or endure discomfort, especially when her pregnancy made her urinate more frequently.
“Before we had a toilet, we used to go to the river, in front of everyone. So when I wanted to defecate, my child would cry and I couldn’t leave him,” said Solikatin.
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Before the Healthy Area Program was introduced, limited sanitation and a lack of health knowledge were daily challenges for Solikatin and many other mothers in Jaya Makmur Village. The river, which was the lifeline of the village, became a place to relieve oneself. There was almost no privacy, and a sense of security was far from sufficient, especially for women and pregnant mothers.
Solikatin also did not fully understand pregnancy health and baby care. Everything was done as it was, following customs that had been passed down from generation to generation.
The change began to be felt when Solikatin joined the Pregnant Women’s Class facilitated by Sulrahmi through the Healthy Area Program. From there, she received nutrition packages consisting of eggs, fruits, supplementary foods, and nutritious drinks. She attended the class three times and received nutrition packages twice, from five months into her pregnancy until she was close to giving birth.
In the class, Solikatin not only received assistance but also knowledge. She learned prenatal exercises, understood the danger signs during pregnancy and postpartum, and learned how to care for a baby.
“Now I can take care of things myself. I know that after feeding, a baby needs to be burped frequently. It’s really helpful,” she added.
Routine health checks are also carried out. When hemoglobin (Hb) levels are checked, mothers with low Hb receive additional nutritional packages as a preventive measure against anemia. In addition, Solikatin received assistance in the form of a healthy toilet consisting of a toilet bowl, PVC pipes, and three bags of cement. Soon, the toilet was built and ready for use.
“Now I can go to the bathroom anytime without worry. Now that we have a healthy toilet, I don’t need to go to the river anymore. There is a toilet at home. Alhamdulillah, it’s comfortable and I don’t need to go out at night anymore, especially since I’m pregnant and need to urinate frequently. Now I don’t need to wake my husband up anymore,” said Solikatin.
There’s no more anxiety when the klotok boat passes by or people stop selling in front of the house. Solikatin can use the toilet in peace, whenever needed.
For him, the healthy toilet assistance was a “trigger,” because he already had the desire to build a toilet, but it was always delayed due to financial constraints. With the stimulus and assistance from the facilitator, that motivation finally came to fruition.
“Alhamdulillah, I’m happy. The incentive motivated us. We wanted to build a toilet, but we kept waiting for the funds. The incentive was a trigger, especially with the facilitator here to monitor us. Without it, we might not have known when to build it,” concluded Solikatin.
In Jaya Makmur Village itself, various activities have reached hundreds of beneficiaries, ranging from Supplementary Feeding (PMT) for around 150 infants and toddlers, visits to postpartum mothers with nutrition packages, to Pregnant Women’s Classes that have successfully reduced cases of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) and anemia to zero.
Support continues through Toddler Mother Classes, the provision of nutritional packages for malnourished toddlers, and demonstrations of nutritious cooking that open mothers’ eyes to the fact that stunting is not just a matter of food, but also parenting, sanitation, and the environment.
The Healthy Zone Program does not merely provide facilities and services but instills the awareness that a healthy life is both a right and a shared responsibility. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Dhika