Belajar Global Health di UNSW melalui Twitter dan Blog

Sungguh pengalaman baru buat saya ketika mengikuti kuliah International health semester lalu. Istilah International Health saat ini menjadi rancu dengan istilah Gobal Health. Saat ini dengan akan berakhirnya MDG di 2015, public health praktisi lebih sering menggunakan istilah global health. Haampir sama tapi tak serupa. Ini akan saya bahas dicerita saya berikutnya.

Yang unik dengan kuliah ini adalah salah satu penilaiannya dengan diskusi online melalui twitter setiap hari senin jam 7 malam. Ternyata tidak hanya saya yang masih tergolong gaptek, banyak juga yang belum familiar dengan social media ini. Kami disarankan follow masing-masing teman di kelas dan beberapa akun twitter terkait global health seperti WHO, UNICEF, Billgates Rollback Malaria, dll tergantung interest masing-masing. Alasan utamanya adalah sebagai mahasiswa postgrad kita diharapkan mengikuti perkembangan global health berikut pro dan kontra karena ilmu ini terus berkembang. Kita juga diharapkan berkontribusi dengan menyumbangkan ide dan pikiran dalam 500 kata dalam blog global health UNSW.

Dengan mengikuti komunitas global health di UNSW, saya mendapat kesempatan mengikuti dialog langsung Q&A ABC dengan sang philantropis terkenal Bill Gates uang diadakan di UNSW. Bill Gates memberikan dana yang sangat besar untuk penelitian TB dan HIV di UNSW. Bill Gates memiliki keyakinan jika kita bisa menemukan vaccine baru dan obat baru untuk TB, penyakit yang sampai sekarang belum juga bisa dieliminasi ini, akan menyelamatkan banyak nyawa. Walaupun jalan menuju kesana masih panjang dan memerlukan dana yang tidak sedikit, dia tetap optimis. Dia juga mensupport funding gap untuk program bebas polio agar anak-anak terselamatkan dari penyakit mematikan ini. Selain kesehatan, ternyata Bill Gates juga mensupport dana untuk edukasi. Menurutnya meningkatkan kualitas guru dan proses pembelajaran anak akan meningkatkan taraf hidup dan kesehatan. Betapa mulia hati Bill Gates dan Melinda. Semoga B&MG yang lainnya akan muncul dan bersama memerangi masalah kemiskinan dan kesehatan dunia.

Menurut saya social media memiliki banyak keuntungan. Selain kita bisa mengupdate informasi, berdiskusi online dan mengenal teman sekelas lebih baik, kita ternyata telah membentuk jaringan global health yang pasti akan sangat berguna bagi karir dan penelitian di masa datang. Bahkan di twitter kami bisa berdiskusi dengan external student yang berada di afrika dan di London. Sungguh pengalaman yang menarik. Yang menjadi tantangan saya saat ini adalah melanjutkan update informasi melalui twitter di semester ini disela-sela tugas saya yang berjibum. Well I like learning Global Health in UNSW :)

Pentingnya Memahami Proses (Kuliah Clinical Governance)

Kuliah minggu lalu adalah tentang menghubungkan proses dan hasil didalam sebuah sistem kesehatan. Menariknya Julie, dosen favorit saya, memberi contoh pembuka mengenai anak kita. Kita sebagai orang tua berharap anak kita bisa menghasilkan sesuatu sedangkan kita sibuk dengan urusan kita. Tiba ketika anak kita datang ke kita dengan membawa hasil karyanya, kita sangat terkejut dan memujinya. Namun kita tidak tahu proses pada anak kita untuk menghasilkan karyanya itu. Bagaimana dia harus gagal, mencoba dan mencobanya. Moral of the story adalah sebagai orangtua kita sebaiknya mengikuti proses, betapa sulitnya memperbaiki proses itu dan menghargai proses  hingga anak kita mendapat hasil. Don't expect good outcomes if you don't understand the process behind that.

Dalam 'improvement of the health system', kita harus memandang kompleksitas sebuah sistem yang didalam terdapat 6 pilars yang terdiri dari delivery of health services, information, workforce, commodities, financing dan leadership. Health system tidak akan mebaik hanya dengan training dan dana saja. Semua bagian/pilar dalam proses tersebut harus di tingkatkan. Harus diingat pula, melalui PDSA (Plan Do Study Act) cycle dalam CQI (continuous Quality Improvement) harus diterapkan secara berkala untuk menjamin hasil yang diharapkan dapat tecapai.

My wishes

Sometimes I don’t understand why God give me this opportunity while I am not really expecting it. I never imagine that I will live in Bali for more than a month after 32 years of my life. When I was kid, I spent no more than 2 weeks for my school holiday in Bali. Now, I have an opportunity to stay in Bali for 6 months continuously. I hope I can learn lot of things out of my study purposes.

First, I hope I can build more strong relationship with my family as well as the extended family after almost 10 years married. Lucky me, I have the best parents in law in the world who make everything easier for me. I have no difficulty in communication with them especially for settling my accommodation and time arrangements.

Second, I am expecting to speak Balinese fluently within six months. However people sometimes laugh when I speak Balinese with a Javanese accent. I don’t mind, they laugh in positive perspective. I believe that I can learn more quick from elderly and kids who can’t speak bahasa well. This is a good challenge for forcing me to speak Balinese, otherwise we could not have the conversations.  

Third, I wish I have time to explore more about Bali particularly Denpasar city. Once again, my parents in law have a big role in this process. They provide me a new motorbike as my main vehicle for making everything goes smoothly and for exploring Denpasar city.

Last but not least, I hope I can meet my old friends in Denpasar like mb Wulan, Yanti, Mb Oka, Ayu, Anik, Mb Alit, Luh Nik, etc. Having them will be a good chance for me to rebuild our memories and relationship.

Apart from all those wishes, the most important wish is I can reach the 4 big purposes of IALF course: increase the language skills, knowledge in cross cultural, academic skills and higher IELTS score test. Om Avighnam Astu, I will.

New journey in 2012

It has been long time I have stopped to write this blog... nearly 2 years I guess. Not because I didn't have enough stories to write, but I didn't have time and willingness to start writing. Since now, I have to... I have to start practicing to write, to read, to speak and to listen in English. Why? Ok... I will tell you the story.

While working part time in TB research, I applied for ADS scholarship and clinical microbiology specialist Program at the same time. Honestly, I wasn't sure I will get the scholarship after applying for the third times... So, thanks to God, I accepted as resident of Clinical Microbiology program UGM period of July 2011. Studying while working is not easy for me... but I believe this is a good step for my carrier. When I almost forgot at all about ADS and busy with my study, I received a surprising email mentioned that I was sellected as one of 700 people choosen to be interviewed for ADS scholarship. This is not easy but Andi has convinced me that I have to do this step and he gave me his fully support to through this hard part. I do believe that God loves me... He always give the very best things for me even I doubt to my self. Doing my best for what God gave me is what I have to do. A month later I received news that I got the ADS scholarship and have to attend the Pre Departure Training in Bali for 6 months. As the consequence of this, I will leave Lita in Jogja with mbah and kakung. I understand this is unconfortable not only for Lita, for me as well. But lucky me, Lita is a great daughter and she will survive physically without me... for sure my heart will always be with her.... PDT is start of my new journey and I will write all my experiences down and share it in this blog....

Sputum Contamination and Centrifugation

This is the very first step in Culture specimen for diagnosis and identification Tuberculosis. Sputum decontamination is the process of removing contamination, particularly the cleaning off of dangerous materials (sputum). Sputum specimen was collected in falcon 50 ml in 2 collection times ie morning an in place/health provider (labeled with P and S). In this study, we examine sputum smear negatives sent by 3 BP4 (Balai Pengobatan Penyakit Paru-Paru) in Yogyakarta.
The decontamination is processed in the Basic Safety Containment level 2 (BSC 2) to protect the laboratory workers from the infection risks, since the transmission of TB can be through aerosol. The lab workers should wear the protection equipments: lab jacket, gloves and mask. The steps are described below:
1. Mix NaOH 3% and Na Citrat with the same volume (25+25 ml)
2. Add NALC 0.25 gr (after mix with NaOH-Na Citrat should be used within 24 hours)
this is known as decontamination solution.
3. Add the solution into specimen with volume 1:1
4. mix in vortex mixer
5. Add PBS (Phosphate Buffer Saline) until volume is 45 ml
6. centrifuge in 4 degree, 3500 RPM for 15 minutes.
7. Throw the all of the supernatant and add with PBS 2ml
8. Mix with vortex mixer
The sputum has been decontaminated and centrifuged and ready to be inoculated in the medium. In this study the decontaminated specimen is inoculated in Thin Layer Agar (with and without Para Nitro Benzene/PNB), Lowenstein Jensen (with and without PNB) Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) and object glass for direct microscopic examination. The rest of the specimen is kept in the pellet and freeze in -20 degree to be used for other purposes examination.

Firs day in Laboratory

After a week I've been busy with settling everything in Jogja, finally I can breath freely and start my journey. I visited Medical Faculty GMU to meet Bu Ning, my supervisor who has given me this opportunity. Nine o'clock in the morning sharply I stepped in to laboratory's door. Unfortunately, she has'nt come yet. I tried to enter the door after waiting for 15 minutes outside. I knocked one of the doors and meet Ibu Sunyi. She was smiling and trying to recognize me. She still remembered me and in a short time we had a long chat. She is the only one assistant of Bu Ning who works for TB research. She gave me some references and explained to me the progress of the on going research that I will involve in.
Let me give you an overview about the research. This research is about " Thin Layer Agar as a new rapid diagnosis of TB in smear negative patients in Jogjakarta", conducted by Department of Tropical Medicine GMU in collaboration with Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Since I will attend a TB course in Lausanne in October, they ask me to visit Antwerp for gaining some knowledge and skills in Thin Layer Agar. This is a good opportunity for me to start a new journey in TB Lab. I will assist Bu Ning in lab working for the on going study. The objective of the study is determine the sensitivity and specificity of TLA compare with other methods (Lwenstein Jensen/LJ and Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube/MGIT) in smear negative patients. The target samples is around 1400 negative smears patients taken from 3 BLKs in Jogjakarta. 161 has been successfully collected and examined.
After waiting for 3 hours, finally Bu Ning came in to her room. She looked happy and of course busy. She told me about the research and asked to observe the lab works for this 2 weeks and do it by myself after. Having half an hour effective discussion with her made me conclude that I should work hard with this.
Fortunately soon after the discussion was ended, I had an opportunity to observe directly the preparation of media (TLA), sputum decontamination and inoculation process in to TLA, MGIT, LJ and object glass for BTA examination. I will explain latter on the steps of each method. Basically, I really enjoy it and excited to involve in this study.
As I always say to Lita: I will never stop learning. Thanks for opening my way God, I will try more harder.

Smart Risk

I watched a kid's program accidentally in abckids this morning. His program has made me realize what happen in my life in this short time. Many value things that I need to share here.

The host asked the audience: do you feel bored if everyday you do the same things in your life? eat, sleep, watch, eat, sleep and watch again. We called this as a comfort zone. If you want to do something new, we called it take a risk. It is not always as dangerous risk but a smart risk. Sometime get out of the comfort zone make us feel uncomfortable. Therefore, before you decide to take the smart risk you should assess the positive and negative things that will be affected to the risk. From this assessment you should determine what is your goal and what are you afraid of? How you can cope this feeling and take the first step?

This is really useful for me to be applied in my recent new decision. I am assuming it as my smart risk. My goal is to get a new experience in TB area and enhance my capability and knowledge. The positive thing that might be happen if I take this risk is I can start my new carrier that is related to my background. The negative thing that might be happen is they don't satisfy with the result of the course. Thus, that is one thing that I am afraid of: failure.

For reducing the negative thing to be happened, I should more reading, learning and keep practicing as much as I can. Do my best and let God taking care of the rest.

Biosafety

1. Definition

Biosafety consist of 2 words: Bio (biology) and safety, means protection to potentially harms from infection agents including.

Infective Microorganism were classified into 4 risk group:

Risk group 1 (no/low individual and community risk)

Risk group 2 (moderate individual and low community risk)

Risk Group 3 (high individual and low community risk)

Risk Group 4 (high individual and community risk)

If there is a limitation of information, the epidemiological data and patient history can be used to asses the risk.

Biosafety level is divided into 4 level based on the composite of design features, construction, containment facilities, equipment, practices and operational procedures.

Biosafety level1 - basic

Biosafety level 2 - basic

Biosafety level 3 - containment

Biosafety level 4 - maximum containment

The backbone of Biosafety is Risk Assessment that performed by professional judgement as the laboratory director responsibility. This should be reviewed routinely and revised if required.

All Izz Well

Komang Andika, my brother in law, has arrived in Wollongong yesterday. Andi picked him up in the Sydney airport by train. We know that winter season is not a good time for holiday for him because of its extremity in weather difference with Bali. In the morning the weather can be very cold below 5 degree even sometimes minus 2 degree then 10 to 15 degree in the mid day. In contrast to Bali, the weather mostly hot that vary from 30-40 degree. Hope he can adapt soon with this kind of situation so he can enjoy his journey here. Imagine how excited Lita when she knew his "Om Upik" will come. She looks happy, talkative and asks more attention from Upik and ayah. She show how she can eat by herself and explain everything she knew to Upik.

We watched an Indian movie brought by Upik last night. "3 Idiots", a quite long duration movie like other Indian movies but we really enjoy it. It was a story about friendship between 3 students in a college for mechanical engineering, Rancho, Raju and Farhan. They are come from a different family background. Raju's dad used to be a postman but his stroke make him laying on the bed, meanwhile mum working hard for taking care of her family. His family hope he can be engineer so can take offer the family backbone and earn money for his sister marriage. Unfortunately his marks always at the bottom ranks in the class, and his friends called him idiot. Meanwhile Farhan, is a good son from middle class family, but his interest is in wild animals photography instead of engineering. His father think that he can not have money from that kind of profession and push him to be an engineer. Raju's marks in the class is slightly different with Farhan, ranks number 2 from the bottom. Rancho, is the hero in this story. He has made his friends to wake up that they should follow his heart and never be afraid of anything. "All izz well", say it when problem come to you. In a short, his friends realized and move on with his interest and the are become successful even not rich but happy.

As usual, I always cry when watching Indian movies. It was really great movie. "All izz well"

A surprise news....

It was a very busy day when I spent my 31st b'day in my working place. "Happy B'day to Asti" was written on the noticeboard and almost all my friends gave me lots of greetings. Unfortunately, plenty of works have made us came back to Wollongong very late at around 6.00 pm on that day. I was very tired when entering my home. Suddenly it was gone when I saw my clean house and welcome smiles of Lita and my beloved hubby Andi. He has cooked my favorite dishes; sate lilit, lawar, sambal sereh and nasi kuning. All of them have been served on the table. Lita also gave me a rose and her own card saying "Happy Birthday to Asti". My happy night completed after 30 minutes latter my best friend family came brought a birthday cake and spent the night together.

Another surprise was coming when I checked my email on that night. "Dear Dr. Palupi, I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected to participate and granted a fellowship by TDR?WHO Geneva for the Advance course of Immunology, vaccinology and biotechnology applied to TB". This email has made my plan change in the very short time. I should leave Andi behind to finish his study without us and return to Jogja soon. My mind think that God has a new plan for me and question come to me: is this the best for us?....

Funding for New Diagnostics of MDR-TB

As repoted in http://www.worldcarecouncil.org/content/finally-good-news-mdr-tb-diagnostics-are-coming by Comrades, there is a new agreement signed between UNITAID, WHO, FIND, GLI and GDF for supporting the new diagnostics for MDR TB.

MDR TB (Multi Drugs Resistance of Tuberculosis), a condition that there are resistance cases to more than one TB drugs that caused TB treatment unsuccessful. This has made the case increased and needed new diagnostic for MDR TB and new drugs as well.

The project called EXPAND TB (Expanding access to new diagnostics for TB) which goal is to accelerate access to diagnosis for patients at risk of MDR TB. These are the partners:

UNITAID, is giving fund $ 26 million and will be expanded to $ 87 million for the project. The 16 targeted countries (2008 - 2011) are: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Myanmar, Lesotho, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam. The next project (2011-2013) will be included 11 other countries: Cameroon, Djibouti, Haiti, India, Kenya, Peru, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Senegal, Swaziland and Zambia.

This is a good opportunity for Indonesia as a high burden countries for TB cases in world to strengthen the Laboratory access for new diagnostics. Supplyng the tools and training for laboratory test.

My Bad Day

Kamis, 24 Sep 2008... Entah mengapa hari ini sangatlah berat buatku... saya bisa menyebutnya sebagai my bad day. Apakah ini sindrom boringmia? Begini ceritanya...

Seperti biasa, kami mandi pagi berdua (Lita dan saya)... ketika pake sabun jedukkkk... kepalaku kebentur keras tempat sabun yang diam tak bergeming di tembok... terjadilah luka dan memar luar biasa di keningku. Sempoyongan saya mencoba menyadarkan diri bahwa ini adalah kesalahanku.

Kejadian kedua adalah di dapur... saya merapikan piring gelas dan panci di lemari. Posisi lemari atas dan bawah terbuka, dan ketika saya nunduk naruh panci di bawah, jedukkkk.... kepalaku terantuk pintu lemari atas yg diam tak bergeming terbuka lebar... Bayangkan seperti apa benjol kepalaku klo pintu lemari itu sampai lepas dari engselnya... Menetes air mataku menahan sakit dan aku berusaha menyadarkanku bahwa ini akibat aku lupa nutup pintu lemari atas.

Kejadian ketiga adalah kejadian yang paling silly kulakukan. Memasak adalah rutinitasku setiap sore... hari itu aku berencana bikin Rolade dengan kulit dari telur dadar. Setelah siap bahan isi rolade, kuambil kotak yg berisi sedozen telur dan kulihat telur paling ujung pecah, tapi isi telur masih utuh... wah sayang klo dibuang. Entah dimana otakku saat itu, secara kulit telur lengket dikotal, kutuang kotak itu dengan harapan isi telur pecah itu tumpah kemangkok. Kuabaikan telur2 yang lain yang masih utuh, dan merekapun jatuh berhamburan ketika kutuang kotak itu... Sontak reaksiku adalah seluruh bagian tubuhku berusaha menangkap telur yg berhaburan ke bawah, termasuk kedua kakiku. Sebuah telur melayang diantara pahaku dan refleksku menjepitnya. Berhasil!!! tapi telur itupun pecah dipahaku karena kujepit hikkkk.... Mr Bean banget aku hari itu... Alhasil hanya 2 telur yang terselamatkan sedang yang lainpun ikut pecah...

Ketika aku ceritakan kejadian konyol ini ke suamiku tercinta, kamipun tertawa terpingkal2... dan ayahpun mencium keningku sambil berbisik, mungkin ibu lelah aja..

Renungan: Apakah aku sudah lelah menanti sesuatu yang tak kunjung datang juga, KERJA?... Apakah aku sudah bosan dengan rutinitas ini? Mudah2an aku jujur pada diriku sendiri bahwa aku tidak bisa diam diri dirumah, aku perlu melakukan sesuatu... Mudah2an kejadian ini dapat aku ambil hikmah buat hidupku ke depan.

Day care menurunkan resiko Asma pada anak?

Sept. 9, 2008 -- Infants and toddlers who attend day care are less likely than other children to develop asthma symptoms by age 5, a new study shows. (Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News)

Hasil studi ini menunjukkan bahwa dari anak usia 6 - 12 bulan yang masuk daycare ditemukan 75% menurunkan resiko menderita bersin berulang (salah satu gejala astma), sedangkan anak masuk day care sesudah 1 tahun ditemukan 35% menurunkan resiko asthma dibandingkan anak yang sama sekali tidak masuk day care.

Hasil studi ini mendukung "Hygiene Hypothesis" yang menyatakan paparan dini terhadap infeksi dan bakteri memberi perlindungan terhadap asthma dan alergi. Kondisi ini dapat menjelaskan mengapa anak2 di negara maju/industri lebih tinggi beresiko mendapat astma dan alergi. Di negara maju, lingkungan rumah dan tempat umum terlihat sangat bersih,sehingga anak2 sangat kurang terpapar sumber infeksi dan bakteri sehingga kurang berkembang sistem imun dalam tubuhnya yg sangat berguna dalam melawan asma dan alergi.

Hasil Studi ini mendukung hipotesis ini, namun belum cukup membuktikan kebenaran dari Hygiene Hypothesis ini.

Sumber: http://children.webmd.com/news/20080909/day-care-may-cut-kids-asthma-risk?ecd=wnl_aaa_092208

Renungan: Anak usia 6 - 12 bulan adalah masa yang penting dalam pembentukan sistem kekebalan tubuh.

The power of truth

It was an experience will never forgotten in my life. They seems want to eat us when some questions were asked without any consideration. It was clear that whatever the explanation they are keep asking and conclude that the explanations were not strong enough for them. Even our bodyguards were there, they still want to make us uncomfortable. I thought only one among them that was realizing what we have presented will be very important for them. Only God knows what exactly they want, we just keep waiting for the impact. God gave a clue when an sms was sent by themself, and clearly mention that they want to cancel it. We don't need to conclude from anything only from their sms. The power of truth talks to the world what they want. We have a bargain position when the ego could not except they have done... And it was make world noisy... and when the highest level talks, we win... Thanks God for your help.

Unfair.....

I walked through on my shoping list.... "milk for Lita" was on number 5 that I had to buy. My eyes directly interested in a colourful stand of Dancow brand milk. Aha... so many presents from Dancow including a science CD as bonus for purchasing a 800gr Dancow 1+. I was so happy than, how lucky I am today I thought. After finding the plain one that my daughter very much like, I found no CD there. But how come, that was not fair,.... Meanwhile the chocolate, strawberry, honey, and vanilla flavours had the CD on it, only the plain none. How come?.... I tried to find out the answer from the beutiful lady standing in the stand... But she also doesn't know why...
My question still around fulfiling my head when I can't get the answer, then my husband tried to make me calm down. You know honey, it is a marketing strategy. When some brands were not reach the target on sale than the others, they can do anything to make it increase. In his opinion, the plain one was sold very well than the others.... Hmmm it make sense, then the company tried to encourage moms to buy the flavoured-one. Hopefully all moms didn't do it. As suggested, the plain milk is the best than flavoured milk, tasted one usually content of high consentrate of sugar which will damage our kids teeth.... Oh no... If our kids love the plain one, don't try to offer the flavoured one... Please deh ah....

Kesegaran....

Hari ini kuputuskan untuk memanjakan diri sejenak untuk medapatkan kesegaran baru. Rutinitas yang biasa dilakukan seorang wanita namun jarang sekali kunikmati. it is not about money, but why i can't do it regularly?
Tapi akhirnya kuniati sebagai kejutan untuk menyambut kedatangan suamiku tercinta hari ini. Potong rambut, facial dan hair spa. Segarrrrrrrr......

Get new challenge

I believe that God have his own plan for us. When I decided to resign from WHO at the end of last year, I have to accept that I will be unemployed for awhile in Jogja till we will leave on May. Lucky me, mbak Ari, one of my college and close friends offer me to help her as field manager in Hospital DOTS assessment in out Java. Whatever the position, I am glad to receive the offer. this is a new challenge for me to get another experiences in community health area.
Some other things I've started to do in last two weeks are fitness exercises 3 times a week, taking course for Balinese dance once a week and IELTS practices.
Hope this will be something in the future. Thanks God...

Karir dan Keluarga

Untuk memulai menulis cerita ini memerlukan waktu berhari-hari lamanya sampai pada saatnya kuputuskan agar jari-jariku mulai melakukan sesuatu. Ini tentang kehidupanku yang mungkin juga menjadi bagian kehidupan dari perempuan-perempuan lain.

“Bapak, I have decided to discontinue my contract for family reason”, kalimat ini kuucapkan dengan pasti sebulan menjelang akhir kontrak kerjaku di ruangan bosku. Bisa dibilang aku mulai menyukai pekerjaan ini, apalagi gaji yg kunikmati sangat menjanjikan. Teman-temanku pun terkejut mendengar keputusanku waktu itu, “sayang sekali, kamu punya kesempatan kerja di tempat yg kata orang sangat sulit mendapatkannya”. Bosku yang orang asing ini pun mengerti akan keputusanku dan memintaku segera mencari pengganti posisiku.

“Ibuk!!!!” suara kecil periku Lita mengoyak lamunanku pagi ini. “Good morning sayang” kugendong tubuh anakku yang berumur 2,5 tahun itu sambil kupandang matanya yang bening. “Ibu baru apa tuh?” pertanyaan pertamanya mulai dilontarkan Lita. “Ibu bikin susu sereal dan roti panggang pisang, sarapan buat ayah dan Lita”, jawabku sambil tanganku mulai menuang air panas ke gelas. “Kok nggak maem nasi?”, “kok pake air panas?”,”kok pake pisang?”, kok pisangnya ditaruh di roti?”…. Demikian aku harus siap menjawab pertanyaan yg bertubi-tubi sampai anakku yang cantik itu puas dengan jawaban yang kuberikan.
Menyiapkan sarapan sudah menjadi bagian rutinitasku selama hampir sebulan ini, tepatnya sejak aku tak bekerja lagi. Saat itu juga suamiku telah kembali dari tugasnya di Amerika selama hampir setahun. Saat-saat seperti inilah yang kuimpikan, berkumpul bersama keluarga.

“Pagi bu, pagi Lita” ayah yang berkaos singlet dengan senyum hangatnya menyapa kami di dapur. “Pagi ayahhhhh” sahut manja Lita sambil minta gendong ayah. Ayah adalah seorang dosen di Jogja yang punya banyak kesempatan dalam hidupnya untuk meraih sukses di karirnya dan kebetulan mendapat beasiswa S3 di Australia mulai tahun ini. Berpisah lagi selama 4 tahun tapi aku bisa berkarir atau ikut ke Australia mengurus keluarga. Karir atau keluarga….. Keluarga adalah alasan kuatku berhenti bekerja.

“Cepet bukk… Lita sudah siap, ayah shake hand dong” teriak halus Lita dengan semangat barunya setelah seminggu lebih ini masuk day-care. Mengantar dan menjemput Lita, menyiapkan makan malam, belanja, nyuci seterika adalah rutinitas baruku yang kusukai. Aku melakukannya sebagai latihan 5 bulan kedepan sebelum berangkat ke Australia yang more and less akan sama situasinya. “Ingat ada 5 hal klo Lita sekolah”, sambil jariku mulai berhitung.”Tidak boleh minta pulang, tidak boleh nangis, makan yang banyak, tidak boleh bertengkar dan klo pipis bilang bu guru” jawab Lita dengan hafal di depan sekolah. “bye-bye ibu”… senyum manis Lita menjadi semangatku hari ini.

Sejak aku berhenti kerja, aku merasa hubunganku dengan anakku yang baru satu ini semakin erat, aku semakin memahaminya dan baru sebulan ini aku mencoba menggali kemampuannya. Ternyata luar biasa…. Lita termasuk anak yg pandai bergaul, pintar dan menyenangkan. Walau aku sudah tidak bekerja, aku sadar profesi baruku, sebagai researcher for human development, juga tak kalah penting dalam hidupku.

“Kok ibu senyum-senyum sendiri” sapa ayah dari belakang mengagetkanku malam ini. “Eh ayah udah pulang, kok gak kedengeran suara pintu kebuka…” aku berusaha mengalihkan pembicaraan. “Ya karena ibu serius sekali di dapur” ciuman mesra suamiku tercinta menyejukkan hatiku. Ayah adalah sosok suami yang sangat romantis dan cinta yang diberikannya kurasakan tak pernah luntur walau cinta kami sudah berumur 10 tahun. “Maaf ya yah… tadi pagi ibu mendapat pertanyaan dari tetangga yang mengganggu pikiran nih… kok ibu gak kerja? Pertanyaan klise yah… mo neranginnya hmm…. bisa jadi cerpen nanti” senyumku sambil mengaduk sayur lawar yang kudapat resepnya di internet tadi siang. Senyum ayah memaklumi gundah gulanaku dibalik senyumanku. Dirangkulnya pundakku sambil ayah membisikkan di telingaku “maaf ya bu, ibu banyak sekali berkorban untuk ayah… dan terimakasih sudah menjadi istri yang sangat baik”. “Makasih ayah… ibu sadar ini sudah menjadi konsekuensi dari keputusan ibu. Ibu akan support karir ayah semampu ibu. Empat tahun ke depan siapa yang tahu apa yang akan terjadi” Tanganku mengelus pipi ayah dan mencium hangat. Komunikasi seperti inilah yang efektif jika kami menghadapi masalah. “Ini lawar yang paling enak yang pernah ayah makan” puji ayah ketika mulai makan malam. “Ah ayah gombal, ibu kan emang baru pertama ini masak lawar” senyum kami menambah hangat suasana malam ini. Aku berharap segala keputusan yang kami ambil akan membuat keluarga kami menjadi lebih baik.

Kalau dulu aku tak pernah memikirkan bagaimana dulu pengorbanan ibuku, kini aku sadar bahwa ibuku adalah seorang researcher for human development yang berhasil. Thanks ibu.

Working in WHO

Having a year work experience in WHO is the prestigous thing that I ever had in my life. It is the one of International NGOs which work in health related area in the world. When my first step walk in Bina Mulia Building I floor 7, it was very exciting and also unbelieveble. I looked backward in the history of this. Dr Adi Utarini was the key person who gave me chance to apply a vacancy offered by WHO. She recommended me to send a CV and related documents ASAP. Only in a night I discussed this with my beloved husband for getting his support before I decided to try it. In a day as well, WHO rang me up invited me to attend the interview in Jakarta. Suddenly, my life became messy, because I have to consider that I still have a one year daughter and husband worked in Yogya. But I have to be responsible with my decision, I gone through the panel interview in Wednesday, 12 December 2006. There were 4 candidates interviewed by 3 interviewers (dr Firdosi, Petra dan dr Franky) and I was the youngest both in age and experiences. Most of them had more than 3 years experience in TB related area. But lucky me I was choosen as Research Assistant for TB Program in WHO.

I moved to metropolitan city, Jakarta with my beautiful daughter and temporarily separated with my husband. My husband got a fellowship for 9 months in Australia and New York... so we were really separated :)

Become one of TB Team WHO is my fortune, they just like my family... Mbak Nelsy, Mas Erwin, Mbak Candy, Pak Franky, Pak Servas, Bu Sri, Bu Din, Pak Ribi, Bu Rien and Pak Firdosi... We work together, I learnt many things from them both in public health area and life experiences.

The most important thing highlighted is I also learn about administration and financing that I never learnt before. From my experience, the weakness of the system in WHO is there are no clear regulation in administration and budget for implementer like me. It caused many headaches unrelatted with my profesionalism. Nobody perfect, including WHO... whatever it is, I will never forgot my TB family :) Miss U guys.... Hope I will comeback someday....

Scholarship

This is the second time I applied for a scholarship... The same as last year. On last year I failed to get it and this year I don't know. I tried hard to do the best. But now, deep inside my heart, doubtful will get it. Just realize that I can not expected more than my ability. Hope God will give the best for me....