Islamic-Based Organization in Indonesia: Role of Muhammadiyah in Health Improvement
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Islamic-based Organization in Indonesia: Role of Muhammadiyah in Health Improvement Emma Rachmawati Study Program of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. HAMKA, South Jakarta, Indonesia Keywords: Muhammadiyah, Health Service, Community Empowerment. Abstract: Faith-based organizations (FBOs) or religious groups have provided healthcare in developing countries for over a century. This paper focused on the role of Muhammadiyah, which was established in the early 20th century, as an Indonesian Islamic group through its consistent reform movement for community empowerment of the Indonesian people. Since the beginning of its establishment, Muhammadiyah is consistent with and has paid much attention to the importance of education and health service to improve the quality of life of the Indonesian people. The health services are not only for the members of Muhammadiyah or Muslim people but also for all the people of the country and the world, the global health in the international network. The importance of this study lies in the existence of Muhammadiyah as a faith-based organization which plays some roles of the state responsibility in the health aspect, that is to make healthier people. 1 INTRODUCTION (Widmer, Betran, Merialdi, Requejo, & Karpf, 2011). FBOs work daily to better the world and their The Existence of a Religious Group to communities by taking care of those in need. They play an enormous role in providing health Promote Health information and health care all over the world, for example, FBO hospitals and clinics are often the most The social determinants of health framework are the respected and trusted health care providers in current dominant paradigm in public health and communities of all sizes (Banda, Ombaka, Logez, & epidemiology. Religion is a vital aspect of human Everard, 2006). The religious groups are no doubt as experience and should be included as a Social significant players in the delivery of healthcare, Determinant of Health. (Idler, Blevins, Kiser, & particularly in rural or hard-to-reach areas that are not Hogue, 2017). Faith is generally a dominant force in adequately served by the government. the lives of individuals and communities worldwide. Muhammadiyah is one of the religious groups For centuries, faith-based organizations (FBOs) or initiated by the educated Indonesian people, religious group have played a significant role in the established to uphold and reverse Islam in order to national and global effort to promote health and well- realize the real Islamic society. (Elhady, 2017). being, especially among the poor. Owing to Muhammadiyah efforts in health aspect are insufficient local resources, FBOs initially implemented in the form of charity and services, concentrated on building hospitals and clinics, as well program, and activities. It has been mentioned in as training healthcare workers to improve their Muhammadiyah bylaws article 3(g) Increasing health capability and access to affordable health services. quality and public welfare (Muhammadiyah, 2007). The scope of FBO-run activities has developed over Muhammadiyah organization was chosen as the time and FBOs are now considered essential subject matter of this paper due to its reformist providers of health care, particularly in low-resource orientation since its establishment in Indonesia. This settings. The World Development Report called for organization is responsive to health problems. Its the greater use of nongovernmental organizations programs and facilities in health are well-known as (NGOs), particularly FBOs, to improve service charitable efforts. Since it is a religious organization, quality and fill the existing gaps in healthcare services its religious law tends to predominate in its healthcare 44 Rachmawati, E. Islamic-based Organization in Indonesia: Role of Muhammadiyah in Health Improvement. DOI: 10.5220/0008378000440051 In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Social Determinants of Health (ICSDH 2018), pages 44-51 ISBN: 978-989-758-362-9 Copyright c 2019 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved Islamic-based Organization in Indonesia: Role of Muhammadiyah in Health Improvement delivery in the community. Muhammadiyah has houses. The economic department has 437 banks several health services facilities that include hundreds (BMT or Baitul Mal wa Tanwil) 762 credit unions of clinics and hospitals in many parts of Indonesia. It (BPRS, Bank Perkreditan Rakyat Syariah), and 25 also has some autonomous organizations such as the publishing houses. All of the numbers attest to the Women’s League (Ind. ‘Aisiyah), the Association of Muhammadiyah’s great contributions for the Muhammadiyah Students, Muhammadiyah Youth, enlightenment and wellbeing of the nation and of the the Young Women’s League, which conducting gradual improvement abroad (Ali, 2015). activities with their objectives. Those autonomous involve themselves in many health programs without The Scope of Muhammadiyah's Role in leaving their religious principles. Muhammadiyah the Health Sector also has many experiences with overseas funding organization in the health program, which can be The Ideology and Movement: shared with other Islamic organization (BKKBN, The Implementation of Tawhidi 2002). The existence of Muhammadiyah charity business continues to grow to date and the Principle (the Theology of Al- commitment of its cadres in various geographical Ma’uun) regions of Indonesia, both in rural and urban areas, makes this organization play a significant role in the The existence of Muhammadiyah business charity in community, especially in the fields of education and the field of health is based on the Muhammadiyah health. Citizens' Islamic Life Guidelines (PHIWM). The Muhammadiyah charity effort in the field of health is The Establishment of Muhammadiyah part of the Muhammadiyah charity that functions as a media of da'wah (issuing a summons), as the end of Muhammadiyah is the oldest and a reformist socio- the preaching of the Amar ma'ruf nahi munkar religious organization in Indonesia. It was established (commanding the good and forbidding the evil) and in 1912 by Kyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan in the city tajdid (renewal) originating from the Qur'an and As- of Jogjakarta. Reformist means that Muhammadiyah Sunnah (all the traditions and practices of the aims to adopt a modern Islām to Indonesian life, by Prophet) (Chapter II Article 2. The Identity of making them free of superstition and syncretism. PHIWM). And also especially the excellence, Now, records prove that Muhammadiyah has more trustworthiness, honesty, professionalism, mission than 29 million members all over Indonesia and orientation, general welfare, reliability, impartiality, abroad. It is usually said that Muhammadiyah is the and obedience to the realization of increasing public second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, just health in achieving goals and the intention of the behind its rival Nahdatul ‘Ulama (BKKBN, 2002). affiliation is "enforcing and upholding the religion of In a way that has exceeded this century, Islam so that the true Islamic community is realized’ Muhammadiyah has been proven to provide a (Chapter III. Articles 4 and 5: Principles and powerful influence on the social and theological Objectives of PHIWM) (MPKU, 2018). reform during people's lives through the development The idea of fastabiqul khairat (competition in of Islamic theology and education and social welfare goodness) also deeply inspired Muhammadiyah’s (Elhady, 2017). Since the beginning, Muhammadiyah activities through the establishment of massive and its affiliated women's organization, ‘Aisyiyah, numbers of M/A’s schools and clinics, which is the though technically autonomous, have been main focus of the organization as well as their quality collaborating on education, charity, healthcare, and and thus continued improvement. The spirit of many forms of social affairs throughout Indonesia “enlightened Islam” (“Islam Berkemajuan”) becomes and abroad, by building many schools and a guideline for Muhammadiyah elements to be more universities, as well as hospitals and clinics. By the proactive and responsive as well as providing end of 2014, it was reported that there are 176 solutions to current problems. To this end, universities, 14,346 kindergartens, 2,604 elementary Muhammadiyah needs modern and responsive schools, 1,772 secondary schools, 1,143 high schools, management, led by strong and capable leaders along 102 Islamic boarding school (pesantren), and 15 with a strong vision for the future. Otherwise, the schools for students with special needs. There are notion of its progressive Islam will be a mere tagline currently 457 hospitals and clinics, 421 orphanages, rather than concrete action. One of the preferences of 54 nursing houses. In need of tablīgh (to reach out the “Islam Berkemajuan” (Enlightened Islam) in health message), there are 6,270 mosques and 5,689 prayer aspect means that there should be an institutionalization of charity aimed to solve the 45 ICSDH 2018 - International Conference on Social Determinants of Health problems in the present and future, based on the income range from Rp. 5-6 trillion per year, scripture and Hadith/Sunnah. For instance, the contributing to health solutions in Indonesia by five establishment of hospitals and other health facilities percent. While among non-profit private companies, are part of the practice of Surah Al-Ma’un. Thus, the figure is 15 percent, while the private sector