About the Program
The waste picker community is a group that faces significant health risks. Their daily activities, which involve direct contact with waste, limited access to personal protective equipment, and a lack of understanding about clean and healthy living habits, often result in health issues being addressed too late. Furthermore, access to formal health care remains limited.
In response to this need, Mahija launched a Community Health Workers (CHW) initiative that we call Sahabat Sehat Mahija, a program that grew from, by, and for the waste picker community.
Mahija Health Friends are community health workers who come from the community itself.
Through this program, community health workers are equipped with a range of health-related knowledge tailored to the needs of their communities, including:
- The Dangers of Smoking and Its Impact on Families
- Preventing dengue fever through the 3M+ practice
- The Importance of Regular Prenatal Checkups
- A balanced diet and stroke prevention
- How to access BPJS services, community health centers, and emergency services
After completing the training, the Mahija Health Ambassadors returned to their respective communities to facilitate group sessions, share knowledge, and create opportunities for discussion about health. Through simple yet consistent interactions, the message about clean and healthy living began to spread from one person to another.
This program represents a concrete step by Mahija to strengthen early detection of health issues at the community level while promoting faster and more accurate referrals to formal healthcare services.
Program Achievements
Impact Stories
Mrs. Nur,
Duren Sawit
Mahija Healthy Friends Volunteers
Before joining the Mahija Healthy Friends program, Ibu Nur earned about Rp300,000 a month, which was often not enough to cover her daily basic needs. In her daily life, she tried to support her household while remaining active in her community.
When she first attended the Sahabat Sehat Mahija training, Nur was delighted to be able to learn directly from doctors and experts. She had actually attended health education sessions before, but the material covered in this program felt more comprehensive. Her biggest challenge was speaking in front of others, as she still often felt nervous and afraid of making mistakes.
Over time, her knowledge of health has grown. Now, Mrs. Nur is able to share information with other mothers in her community, particularly about recognizing the early symptoms of illness and the importance of seeing a doctor. This experience has given her more confidence because what she shares is based on what she has learned.
“Now I can share health information with the women in my neighborhood. It feels great to be able to learn while helping people become more mindful of their health.”