Baby Incubator Box Story

Learning from a box of baby incubators loaned for free can indeed uncover and address real-world issues that exist in the field. Prof. Raldi Artono, the owner of the free incubators, through brief discussions, has revealed many issues that often arise in practice, which may have been overlooked.

The problem of premature births and low birth weight (LBW) in Indonesia remains a significant issue and is still categorized as high. Premature babies are almost always associated with LBW. The prevalence of premature babies in Indonesia ranges from 7-14 percent, and in some districts, it reaches 16 percent (Dirjen Yankes, Ministry of Health, 2022).

The main challenge in handling premature babies and LBW is the availability of adequate care facilities, especially in remote areas. Large hospitals in cities may have sufficient facilities, but in rural and remote areas, access to advanced medical equipment such as incubators is still very limited. This is what makes initiatives like Prof. Raldi's so valuable.

Prof. Raldi has been lending incubators for free to families in need. This initiative not only helps save the lives of premature babies but also educates the public about the importance of caring for babies born under special conditions. The incubators have also highlighted various challenges faced by healthcare workers in the field, such as a lack of knowledge about the proper use of medical equipment and insufficient resources.

One success story from this initiative involves a mother in a remote village who gave birth to a premature baby with a very low birth weight. With the help of the free incubator provided by Prof. Raldi, the baby survived and is now growing up healthy. This story underscores the importance of community support and access to adequate medical equipment.

However, challenges remain. The availability and distribution of incubators still need to be improved. In addition, training for medical personnel in remote areas must be continuously strengthened so that they can provide optimal care for premature and LBW babies. Collaboration between the government, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations is essential to address this issue holistically.

Through collaborative efforts and initiatives like Prof. Raldi's, it is hoped that the mortality rate of premature and LBW babies in Indonesia can be reduced. These small but concrete steps offer great hope for the future of children's health in Indonesia.

Read more from Sri Bramantoro Abdinagoro  article on Manajemen ISMS Column at kompas.id -click here-