Ghost Villa

The Midwives Department Part 1

Before I tell the experience of my friend who began service in remote areas as a midwife

Oh yeah, introduce me first, I'm Maya. I am a midwife. After graduating from college, I worked at a clinic. Actually, the clinic belongs to my sister-in-law. If you've ever been to Balaraja, the clinic I work at is not far from the Balaraja market. For two years I worked there.

In 2016, the government opened CPNS vacancies. I follow the list. Actually I just want to know how the CPNS test is and do not have high hopes to pass the test. But God said something else. Thank God I escaped CPNS, then assigned to a remote village.

The name of the village is Mekar Sari. There is a puskesmas that lack midwives. Oh yes, not lack but no bidannya. So the midwife who had been there asked to be mutated to another area. And. I was assigned to fill the midwife vacancy at the puskesmas.

I didn't expect that this village was really remote. Cars are difficult to enter because the road is damaged and muddy if the rainy season. Sometimes trucks pass by. But, the passengers are often forced to go down crowded push because the tires are trapped in the mud puddle.

I myself took an ojek to get to Mekar Sari village. Although in the end still I had to get off the bike because the road is slippery and dangerous. I had to break through the mud. While the taxi driver painstakingly pushed his motorbike.

I was worried because it was 5pm. But we're still stuck on this muddy road.

“It's still a long way yes, Sir?” ask me while balancing the body so as not to slip. My right hand was toting my shoes, while my big bag was placed in front of the motorcycle seat.

“Udah close by, Neng. After this pine forest we arrived at Mekar Sari,” he replied as he turned towards me. As far as the eye could see, along this road was indeed a pine forest.

Arriving at Mekar Sari village, I immediately looked for boarding. I have trouble finding people to ask. This village is very quiet even though it is still afternoon. Fortunately, I met an old woman who was sitting alone in front of her house.

“Excuse me, Mom, introduce me Maya. I am a new midwife assigned to this village. If you want to rent kosan where ya?” my many.

“Oh, Ma'am this new midwife,” she came up to me with a friendly smile.

“Iya, Mom,” I regretted it.

“Include, I'm Minah. If you are looking for kosan in this village, there is no. But Mbak can rent a room in the house of residents,” he said.

“Not anything I rent a room. About who would like my room to rent?”

“Duh, if in my house the room is filled all. How about going to Dinda's house? The midwife who used to live in Dinda's house, too," he said.

“Dinda?” ask me while frowning.

“Iya. She lives with her grandmother alone. Who knows, Dinda wants to rent a room at her house for Mbak Maya,” he said.

“Bby, Mom. May you please take me to Dinda's house if it is.”

He took me to Dinda's house. I didn't think that Dinda was young. She's only 19. He's an orphan and has dropped out of school. For years Dinda took care of her grandmother who was very old.

Dinda's house is pretty big. He said the house was a relic of his parents. There are four rooms and only two are filled. I rented the room of a former midwife who had served in this village.

“That's my grandmother. His name is Mbok Ibah. He couldn't speak,” Dinda opened her grandmother's room. He introduced his grandmother to me.

I saw the old woman sitting on the edge of her bed. All her hair was all white. He was wearing batik cloth whose color had faded and the kebaya clothes were worn. Slowly the woman looked up at me and she smiled.

“Mbok, I Maya who want to rent a room in this house,” my broom from the door.

Of course he can't answer. But I'm sure he also greeted me in his heart.

Dinda closed the door to her grandmother's room. The door hinge may have rusted so that it makes a loud enough sound when closed.

Dinda took me to the room I wanted to rent. Although the walls were worn out and cracked, the room looked clean. There's an old-fashioned iron bed and a cotton mattress there. There is also a wardrobe that is equipped with a large mirror.

“This is her room, Ma'am. Hope to stay here,” said Dinda. I didn't see him smile a bit. Maybe Dinda's a quiet person.

“Iya, Dinda. Thank you so much for accepting me at your home. Oh yes, I have something for you,” I open the big bag I brought.

“This is for you. You like chocolate, right?” my many. He nodded and took the chocolate."Thank you, Ma'am" he said. “If there is anything do not hesitate call me yes, Mbak,” added Dinda.

“Iya, Dinda,” timpalku.

That night I finished the shower and went to bed because I was so tired. The door to my room was locked, the light I turned off. A very exhausting day. I have to rest because tomorrow I have started work at the puskesmas.

I wake up at five in the morning. Turns out Dinda was no longer home. Dinda told me that she recently worked as a corn picker. Corn plantations are indeed one of the sources of livelihoods of Mekar Sari villagers.

After the morning prayers I took a shower. However, before moving to the bathroom, I accidentally saw the door of Mbok Ibah's room open a little. I approached that door to find out if Mbok Ibah was awake or not.

“Mbok is awake?” I pushed the door a little, then turned my head.

Mbok Ibah is awake. He sat on the edge of his bed looking down.

“Already, Son,” he replied in a dry hoarse voice.

“Oh yes already then, Mbok. I want to take a shower first yes,” I said with a smile. He did not look at me and kept looking down.

I went to the bathroom. The water in this village is very cold. Maybe because the location of this village is close to the mountains. Because of the cold, my body immediately shivered. While taking a shower, someone called me. I know that's Mbok Ibah's voice.

“This is the towel,” said Mbok Ibah with his voice that still sounds hoarse and dry.

“Oh yes, Mbok. Gosh don't bother. I've brought a towel, Mbok,” timpalku from the bathroom.

I heard him even chuckle then said, “Wear Mbok towel only.”

The dipper I was holding fell down instantly. I just remembered that this Mbok Ibah can no longer speak. I was instantly silent. My voice was stuck in my throat. The atmosphere became very tense. Outside Mbok Ibah is still calling me while offering a towel.

“This use has Mbok only.”

Fortunately, a moment later, someone knocked on my bathroom door.

“Why, Ma'am?!” that's Dinda's voice.

I put on a towel and opened the door.

“Dinda, earlier Mbok you can talk and keep his hands long,” my tone in a hurry.

“Times anyway, Ma'am?” dinda asked while frowning.

“Iya, Dinda. Ma'am was so scared,” I held Dinda's hand.

“Mbok is still in the room. If you do not believe try to check,” Dinda invites me to see Mbok Ibah's room.

“Fear, Din,” I shook my head.

“Come, Ma'am...,” Dinda forced while pulling my arm.

I slowly approached the door of his room Mbok Ibah. Dinda pushed that door. Inside I saw Mbok Ibah still sitting on the edge of his bed. He turned his head towards us then smiled while nodding kindly.

“Tuh right... Mbok is still in his room" Dinda said.

“Oath, Dinda. Mbak heard it is very clear that Mbok you talk and keep his hands long.”

“It looks like Mbak is still mengelindur deh,” said Dinda.

I shook my head, “Yes have forgotten," I said. I think it's useless to insist on people who don't believe me.

"Where are you out of?” I asked while away from Mbok Ibah's room. I switched the conversation while away from Mbok Ibah's room.

“I was behind the house, Ma'am. Clean up. Today Ma'am working huh?” ask Dinda.

“Iya, Din's. Ma'am to change clothes first yes.”

“Mbak midwife right? before entering the room, Dinda asked again.

“Iya, Dinda.”

“In this village if anyone gives birth do not like to use the midwife Mbak.”

“Lho, why? Still using shaman huh?” I frowned.

“Iya. But in this village is not a shaman by name, but paraji.”

I'm nodding. This is a new challenge for me. I have to give counseling to the community so that they understand about safety during childbirth.

That morning I was picked up by Mr. Sukra. He's a puskesmas officer. Mr. Sukra must have known from the residents that I rented a room at Dinda's house.

I was also escorted to the puskesmas which was a good distance from Dinda's house. Probably about fifteen minutes of travel. The road to the puskesmas was also badly damaged. I was driven by Mr. Sukra's duck motorbike.

“Why are the streets in this village all broken yes, sir?”

“Yes this way, Ma'am. There is rarely any development. Once built the asphalt is very thin. Yes at most last one or two years has been broken again.”

“Oh... so yes, Sir?”

“Iya, Ma'am. Most severe if the rainy season many people fall from the motorbike because the road is slippery, Mbak.”

We finally arrived at the Puskesmas. Seen from the front, the puskesmas look spooky, the walls are mossy, the paint has also faded. There was a large banyan tree in front of the puskesmas building.

“We've arrived, Ma'am. This is Mekar Sari puskesmas,” said Mr. Sukra with a smile.

“Pak, it's behind whose puskesmas?” I asked as I pointed towards the woman standing in the backyard of the building.

The woman looked at us. She was wearing a negligee and looked like she was pregnant. From where I stand right now, I can still see the woman's form clearly.

“Mana, Mbak?” Mr. Sukra is looking for the figure I pointed at.

“That's you, sir. I think she's pregnant old,” I still see that figure.

Surprisingly Mr. Sukra did not see it. Though clearly the woman was still standing in the backyard of the health center while looking at us. Who's the lady?

As Sukra and I approached the woman, I saw her run away and into the bushes. However, once again, Mr. Sukra was completely unable to see the whereabouts of the woman. I don't know why there are so many strangenesses that I'm experiencing today

As Sukra and I approached the woman, I saw her run away and into the bushes. However, once again, Mr. Sukra was completely unable to see the whereabouts of the woman. I don't know why there are so many strangenesses that I've experienced today.

“My advice is not to daydream, Ma'am. Demit easily fools us if we often daydream,” so said Mr. Sukra.

“Iya, Sir,” I nodded. We also went to the puskesmas. Sometimes I still look back, looking for the whereabouts of the pregnant woman.

The first day of work at Mekar Sari puskesmas was very boring. I'm barely doing anything. The treatment is lonely, especially those who are in labor or pregnancy consultation. There is absolutely nothing.

The officers here mostly eat blind pay. The drug pile is left to expire, then discarded and replaced with a new one. The fate of the new medicine was definitely the same, the edges were discarded as well. Rarely anyone goes to this puskesmas. They prefer to use jampe instead of drugs.

Dinda was right. People in this village do not believe in midwives. They would rather go to a shaman or a paraji than ask a midwife for help. I can't imagine for years eating a blind paycheck here