I believe that the independence of citizens directly contributes to a nation’s prosperity. Independent individuals are better equipped to manage limited resources in order to fulfill their own needs and aspirations—whether personal, communal, or national—as these needs continuously evolve with time. By independence, I refer to the social and economic capacity of individuals, households, or communities to sustainably and dignifiedly meet essential needs such as protection, food, water, shelter, personal safety, health, and education.[1]
For private-sector organizations, independent investment is essential. The scale, approach, and implementation may differ widely, but looking back on my own experience, I learned that the most important starting point is courage and determination.
Below is an overview of the work undertaken by Angsamerah Company, the Angsamerah Foundation (Anak Bangsa Merajut Harapan), and the communities they serve:
- More than 15,000 people access health articles every month on Angsamerah’s blog, especially those on sexual health.
- In 2021, over 12,000 individuals visited the two Angsamerah Clinics in Menteng and Fatmawati.
- Both clinics are trusted by the Ministry of Health as private primary healthcare facilities providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) referral services. Today, more than 1,400 individuals with HIV access ART at these clinics.
- Since early 2020, over 5,600 people have accessed affordable rapid HIV testing and common health tests through Angsamerah POS mobile services, a subunit operated under the Angsamerah Foundation Clinic.
- The purpose of Angsamerah POS is to bring accessible healthcare—at low or even no cost—to the community. More than 200 people diagnosed with HIV through this service immediately started ART, continuing either at Angsamerah Clinics or at other convenient health facilities.
- Sexual health and mental health education programs are conducted regularly through Angsamerah’s social media channels (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) as well as offline events. Every day, Angsamerah’s educational content reaches 24,000 social media users.
- Psychological services are provided to staff from 75 NGOs across Indonesia at Angsamerah Clinics, funded through support from the Packard Foundation and managed by the Penabulu Foundation.
To this day, Angsamerah Company and the Angsamerah Foundation continue to operate, grow, and adapt to the evolving needs of society. We hope this short article inspires observers, health professionals, and organizations in the health sector to cultivate the courage and determination needed to invest independently in Indonesia’s primary healthcare.
From experience, I learned that independent investment does not mean working alone. Partnerships with public and private sector organizations, combined with diverse knowledge and expertise, significantly enhance operational efficiency and multiply impact.
How are we able to achieve all of this—and how can others begin?
Interested to learn more?
Read: What are the Benefits of Independent Investment in Primary Healthcare Services?