Friday, August 28, 2015

DR. GAMAL IBNSAID - GARBAGE IS SAVING LIVES IN INDONESIA


Gamal Abinsaid, 24, set up Garbage Clinical Insurance to help communities in need turn their household waste into something that could improve their health.
It might sound unusual, but it works. Gamal's company, Garbage Clinical Insurance (GCI), has already helped more than 2,000 people in Indonesia gain access to medical support.
A young doctor himself, Gamal was inspired to set up the micro-insurance programme which empowers people to take an active role in managing their waste and improving their sanitation.
Turning waste into well-being

Individuals are encouraged to collect their household waste and submit their refuse to one of five GCI-accredited clinics. It's then processed. Organic waste becomes fertiliser while inorganic waste is sold to collectors.

A month's worth of refuse can reach close to 10,000 Indonesian rupiah (€0.60) which is used to cover a patient's treatment and run healthcare programmes and clinical services for the community, providing families with access to doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, dentists and health volunteers.
Rewarded with refuse

To date, GCI has recruited 88 volunteers, 15 doctors and 12 nurses, all of whom are paid with refuse from the community.
As well as establishing Garbage Clinical Insurance, Gamal is founder and CEO of health development organisation Indonesia Medika.

He has conducted a wealth of scientific and social work, and been honoured with several awards including the Inspiring Scientific Award from Research and Technological Minister of Indonesia, an AusAID Indonesian Social Innovator Award. He is also an Ashoka Young Changemaker – part of a group of young people working with the sustainability organisation to master the skills of empathy, leadership, teamworking and creativity.

On becoming a finalist for the Unilever Sustainable Living Young Entrepreneur Awards, Gamal says: "May this be a goodness which brings more goodness. Let's help people until we can't."
www.changemakers.com

No comments: