RABIAH spends more than half her life serving the people in Liukang Tangaya subdistrict, Pangkep regency, South Sulawesi. The 53-year-old woman sails from one island to the next in the subdistrict of 25 islands. Up to 1992, she was the only female nurse-and midwife-in the Liukang Tangaya region whose population is more than 17,000.

According to nurse Rabiah, the most urgent problem is related to obstetrical delivery. "There should be one midwife