Residents of Nusa Penida urged Klungkung Regency Government to post an obstetrician or a midwife in the Nusa Penida Community Health Center. The birthing process on the island is handled by only one general practitioner and a midwife. Often, patients with serious problems need to be transferred to Klungkung General Hospital. The distance between Nusa Penida and Klungkung is very far and the safety of the mother and the baby is a consideration. Executive Director of Coalition of Healthy Klungkung I Wayan Mandra made the comments on Sunday (29/6). According to Mandra, the number of paramedics in Nusa Penida is also limited. (BP 30 June)
Fate of Balinese Cows
The increasing slaughter and inter-island trade of Balinese cows has significantly reduced the population of Balinese cows in the last five years. Based on data from the Husbandry Agency of Bali Province, the population of Balinese cows was 538,753 in 1997 and was 516,981 in 2002. The inter-island trade of Balinese cows is illegally conducted. The only way to increase the population of Balinese cows is to raise them in projects in Jembrana and Baturiti. The price of a Balinese cow also declined from Rp. 4 million to Rp 1.2 million. (BP Jun 24)
Erosion in Cupel, Negara
Residents in Cupel, Negara are questioning the solutions to solve the beach erosion problem as promised by the government. The erosion in Cupel Beach is getting worse. On Sunday (22/6) some houses were ruined because of the huge waves. Tens of coconut trees fell because of erosion. According to legislator of Jembrana, the residents cannot be relocated as most erosion occurs in the settlement area. (Denpos June 23)
British Woman Vanishes
A special team to investigate the disappearance of British woman Anna Kate Osborne was established after the British Consul met Chief of Bali Police Made Mangku Pastika on Monday (16/6). Osborne who worked in Bali reportedly vanished April 2003. Police are investigating her four friends in Bali, two of them are suspects in a drug case in Bali. A detective and policeman from England also are investigating the case in Bali. (BP June 21)
Galungan Holiday Simpler
Galungan holiday on Wednesday (18/6) was simpler than previous Galungan holidays. The offerings were simpler as seen in the residents’ houses. The main streets in Denpasar that are usually congested were deserted. Most shops were closed and there were few shoppers in shopping centers. In Sanglah Hospital, the number of patients in the Emergency Unit drastically dropped, from 50 patients daily to 20 patients. (Nusa June 19)
Bali Recovery Slows
The steps of neighboring countries to promote their tourism overseas threaten Bali’s position. Bali does less while Thailand, Malaysia and Australia heavily promote their countries. This is made worse as Malaysia and Thailand offer cheap holiday packages to European countries. However, in Bali, the government and tourism industry have been slow to anticipate these movements. None of the master plans of the Bali recovery issued in Putri Bali Hotel, Nusa Dua on October 23, 2002 have proceeded. On Monday (16/6), Executive Director Bali Tourism Board Wahyuni Angligan argued that the government is not consistent in it’s commitment the Bali recovery program. (Nusa June 17)
