NTT expedition

Compass makes a comprehensive coverage of the Expedition trail Civilizations East. Compass team seeks to unravel the cultural richness of NTT and agricultural potential in the broad sense, which can be developed to improve the welfare of the people of NTT. Results will be reported coverage from today until next week, plus a report in Focus rubric on Friday next week.

East Nusa Tenggara rich culture and tradition, endowed with natural beauty, vast savannas for livestock, as well as the potential for marine fisheries and abundant.

People living in a number of islands in the province belong to the ethnolinguistic group with at least 40 different traditions. Because of that, there are various fabrics and distinctive musical instruments in NTT, also various rituals, such as Pasola and wula poddu in Sumba, kebhu, gemohing, and ka nua in Flores.

NTT are the rest of the animals in ancient dragons, swirling white sandy beaches and coral gardens in many islands, Lake of Three Colors in Flores, Flores, early man site Liang Bua on Flores, and Sumba megalithic stone tomb potentially attract tourists.

More than a century Sumba is famous as a center for horse and cattle Ongole Sandel. Coffee, cocoa, cloves, and nutmeg thrives in Flores. NTT has also been a source of sandalwood best in the world.

In terms of human resources, who do not know the origin of NTT figures such as doctors and scholars Prof. WZ Johannes Herman Johannes and Frans Seda who occupied various ministerial posts in the era of Sukarno and Suharto.

Ironically, this time including the NTT province of Indonesia lags in the second-lowest-ranked of the 33 provinces in terms of Human Development Index. In 2010 the graduation rate of high school students and equal national examinations in NTT in the lowest ranks in Indonesia.

Indonesia Demographic Health Survey 2007 showed, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) NTT 306 per 100,000 live births, while the national maternal mortality rate 228 per 100,000 live births. The infant mortality rate (IMR) NTT 57 per 1,000 live births and the national IMR 34 per 1,000 live births. In addition, 23 percent of the 4.6 million inhabitants are poor NTT.

Lack of infrastructure

NTT complained about the lack of public infrastructure, such as roads, seaports, airports, health care, clean water, and electricity. It is difficult for the movement of goods and people, making the quality of life does not go up, which in turn inhibits the development of human resources.

According to members of the Economic Commission of West Manggarai Development Council, Edi Endi, only 10 percent of the total 212,000 kilometers of roads in the West Manggarai are fit for use. Like a size too much because it paved even chipped.

Traces of Civilization observation NTT Expedition team, several roads in West Manggarai regency cut by streams and holes. This leads to the difficulties of marketing of agricultural and plantation. Several large trucks carrying agricultural products, such as vanilla and coffee, difficult crossing provincial roads are narrow and winding. Partly rolled in sharp turns.

In fact, to market their crops and livestock, is a mainstay of the region, it is necessary that sufficient harbor large ships can dock. Proposed district governments to the central government to expand the Port of Nusantara has not received a response.

Lack of transportation in NTT makes citizens more difficult to access health services. Health workers could only reach people in remote areas and small islands once a month. As told by Dr. Elvira, Chief Melolo Health Center, East Sumba. To achieve Karobu Hamlet, Kanoru Ngaru village, or hamlet Indirara, Village Watukunda, doctors and paramedics should be along the winding path flanked by cliffs and ravines, climbing steep hillsides, and crossed the river.

Villagers Demondei, District Wotanulumado, Adonara, has a long way to the various modes of transport in order to reach the hospital in Larantuka, East Flores regency capital. Ie, walking distance to village Mewet coast, connected to the motorcycle ride motorcycles Waiwerang Pier, then crossed over two hours by motor boat to Larantuka. Quite often mothers of difficult labor eventually died on the way due to loss of blood.

Chief Medical Officer of NTT Stefanus Bria said health workers in the province is very limited. The number of doctors in the last three years continues to decrease, from 215 to 161 general practitioners and dentists. Specialists only 12 people.

Number of health centers spread across 21 districts / cities in the province is only 113 units, 187 units of privately-owned clinic, polindes 1,994 units, 1,115 units and health centers. Hospital only eight pieces, the new hospital will be built in Adonara, East Flores.

The majority of residents are still difficulties NTT clean water. They have to walk long distances to fetch water because ground water is very hard to come by in the land that is generally dominated by coral and limestone.

Relatively low income level residents. Traditional fishermen earn an average income of Rp 10,000 to Rp 12,000 per day, using a wooden boat.
There is still a lot of homework to be done by the government and the people of NTT to build human resources and infrastructure for poverty parse.

Sources: Reuters, December 8, 2013
Ket photo: Port City Ende Ende, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday (19/10), is one of the trade gate between islands in Flores island on which the delivery of various commodities. The capacity of the port at NTT felt inadequate because roro ships can not dock.