Owen Francis Program

Health Access Sumbawa Australia (HAS Australia) has launched the Owen Francis program, a critical initiative focused on providing emergency and transformative medical treatment for children in dire need within the Huu district of Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. This program, funded entirely by HAS Australia, is a collaborative effort with the Harapan Sumbawa Proyek, an organization renowned and respected in the Huu district for facilitating medical treatment for families unable to access necessary care.

In Sumbawa, the availability of medical treatment is limited, often necessitating travel to more equipped hospitals, typically in Denpasar, for serious treatments and surgeries. For many families in Sumbawa, residing in villages and working tirelessly seven days a week, the prospect of traveling to Bali for their child’s medical treatment is not only daunting but financially unfeasible. The Harapan health project steps in to provide transport and accommodation costs and a caretaker, making these crucial medical journeys possible.

The Owen Francis project by HAS Australia specifically targets children under the age of 16 suffering from life-changing or life-threatening conditions. Many of these cases are directly attributed to malnutrition, poor sanitation, and hygiene, leading to diseases such as malaria, birth defects, stunting, and tumors. Stunting, for instance, has far-reaching impacts beyond physical growth, including reduced IQ, increased susceptibility to infections, and weakened immune systems. Birth defects often stem from maternal malnutrition, lack of iron, and vitamin A deficiency.

Tragically, maternal and child mortality rates remain high, with malnutrition being a leading threat to child survival worldwide, contributing to over 45% of all child deaths. These are monumental challenges that Health Access Sumbawa is tackling through its various programs. The Owen Francis program specifically addresses the urgent medical needs of children who have often been left untreated for extended periods, sometimes months or even years. The prevalence of such cases in the Hu`u district is staggering, and without the intervention of the Harapan Sumbawa Proyek and the Owen Francis program, these lifesaving treatments would remain out of reach for most children in the area.