In recognition of the pressing need in the community to guard the health of the Island's mothers and daughters, the Rama Sesana Foundation (YRS Bali) decided that Bali's main market was a strategic area from which to reach a large audience of women and provide affordable, accessible, and quality medical care services and health information.
The clinic is located at the centre of Bali’s largest traditional market, Pasar Badung, in downtown Denpasar. There are no fixed prices however donations are accepted for the health services provided.
The clinic was established to support locals who were facing the impact of the 2002 Bali bombing that caused the tourism industry to plummet, resulting in economic stagnation. With women having limited time and money, they rarely prioritise their own health needs in favour of more immediate needs of putting food on their families' tables each day, putting themselves and their families at risk.
The outreach workers at YRS distribute reproductive health education materials and make referrals to the clinic, which is open during weekdays and Friday nights. Every month the clinic receives about 400 patient visits, doing Pap smears for around 50 women, screens for 100 patients with STDs and vaginal infections, and provides family planning, prenatal, general health services, including counselling and medical referrals. Patients are asked to only pay what they can afford for tests and medicines.
In addition, the program also runs community education sessions every month to provide in-depth information and answers on important health topics with expert guests scheduled to present every two months. Similar discussions also take place in small groups at the clinic’s waiting room, where clients can learn new information and ask questions. There is also a monthly support group meeting for women victims of violence.
