The birth of a baby into the world is usually greeted with joy by parents as well as the whole family. Many couples are willing to make every effort to have offspring. So that when in the end the baby is born, an incessant outpouring of affection is given.
However, this is not the case for babies born from Unwanted Pregnancy (KTD) or unwanted pregnancy. In many cases, KTD includes relationships with extramarital partners, rape cases, persons with mental disorders (ODGJ), as well as commercial sex workers (PSK).
In Indonesia, a number of data on the discovery of cases of discarded babies, either alive or dead, have shocked and grieved many parties. How not, the number can reach hundreds in one year.
The results of the findings of Indonesia Police Watch, a community self-help agency that cares about various social problems in Indonesia, recorded that 178 babies were discarded during 2017.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission reported 212 cases of infant dumping throughout 2020 to mid-2021.
This led a Balinese citizen, Burhan Sugiarto, to set up Bali Baby Home, a foundation that provides safe homes for babies born to KTD.
This 47-year-old native of Klaten, Central Java began preparing the Bali Baby Home facility since 2019. However, the goodwill was forced to be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic until it finally continued and officially hosted the first baby on February 28, 2022.
A Balinese citizen, Burhan Sugiarto, decided to establish Bali Baby Home, a foundation that provides safe homes for babies born from Unwanted Pregnancy (KTD).
Until now, Bali Baby Home in Bali takes care of 29 babies, Semarang Baby Home, Central Java 21 babies, and six babies in Jogja Baby Home. As many as 30 babies have already made it back to their mothers or families.
Burhan added that he is currently preparing another home to care for babies from KTD in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
“I wish these places could be closed, but it's utopian,” said Burhan, who was met at Bali Baby Home in Batubulan Village, Gianyar Regency, Bali.
The babies fostered by the foundation are all the result of KTD with the majority from dating relationships, Burhan said.
“The youngest age of mothers whose babies are in Bali Baby Home is 12,” she added. “This is why reproductive education and sex education are important. In our society it tends to be taboo to talk about.”
Burhan urged the government to come up with a solution to this social problem and hoped it was not just a discourse.
Seorang perawat mengasuh bayi-bayi dampak KTD.
“Every month, about 150 million is needed to cover our needs here mainly for clerks and house rentals,” he said. “When it comes to milk, diapers, and food, it is often sufficient from donations from donors and visitors.”
Unexpected events that cost a lot of money also sometimes make him have to be patient.
“Not so long ago 11 babies were ill simultaneously and had to be rushed to hospital,” he said. “Yesterday's total was 22 million rupiah.”
Burhan's greatest hope is for these babies to be able to meet and return to the arms of their respective biological mothers, he said.
“I want them to be embraced by their respective mothers, not by anyone else,” he said lyrically.
To get to know Bali Baby Home more and if you want to visit this foster home please click on balibabyhome.org or via the foundation's Instagram account at bali.babyhome.
____________________
Ade Mardiyati
