
On last Tuesday night we were entertained with an in-depth look at some of the major projects that the Sumba Foundation is involved in. We had Pak Hapu Ammah (Andi), originally from East Sumba speak to us. His CV states that he graduated with a nursing degree in Bali, with support from The Sumba Foundation. Currently, he is in Melbourne, pursuing a master’s degree in public health, with the support of the government, and he expects to graduate in June 2025. He hopes to put his teaching to good use in Sumba upon his return.
![]() Pak Hapu Ammah (Andi), Past President Thelma Hutchison & President Peter Moore |


In addition, he has been a malaria microscopy trainer at the Malaria Training Centre of Sumba Foundation since its inception in June 2010, located in Waikabubak. This is where I met Andi for the first time as the major instructor at the training Centre.
In this role, he helped train government laboratory staff from across Sumba, as well as representatives from Flores, Timor, Alor, Rote, and Sabu districts in East Nusa Tenggara Province.


We had the Directors of the Sumba Eye Program there on the night to support Pak Andi and personally for me it was a great reminder of how much needs to be done on this island that basically time forgot. (BUT not us or Rotary!).