Resistance to Change

This week brought back a lot of memories. A visit with the health worker may seem like a regular part of village life now, but when I first started in this job 15 years ago, the reception I received from the community was quite different. Back then, I had to actively encourage mothers to bring their children to the posyandu, our community health fair, to check their babies’ weight and give them lifesaving immunizations. I faced a lot of resistance in those days from mothers who were unaccustomed to seeking out medical treatment. They didn’t want to meet with me one-on-one, so I began addressing the mothers of my community in groups, following our village’s weekly prayer services. Now, more and more mothers are taking their babies to the posyandu and have become accepting of health workers like me who visit them at home to check on their children and provide them with the care they seriously need.