#InternationalWomensDay

“When I decided to study environmental health many years ago, it was a very new subject. But after I started working as a sanitarian at a community health centre, I realized that I have chosen a career that truly matters for the community".

Almost every day, I visit villages to inspect environmental heath conditions in the homes, such as availability of clean water, improved sanitation and proper lighting. I also educate the community to avoid harmful behaviour such as disposal of waste in water source and open defecation. For many years when proper roads had not yet been built, I had to travel rough roads for three hours to reach the villages, but that did not reduce my spirit.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we work even harder to educate the community as hygienic behaviour is all the more important.

In 2020, I was selected as the best sanitarian in the Sumbawa Barat District. I feel very humbled but also more responsibility. My real happiness is when I saw behaviour change in the community, such as when they stop throwing away trashes in the river or when they improve sanitation in their homes.

My biggest hope is that we start to look at health in a more holistic way, and that the community continues to take care of the environment.”