We first met Riki in 2013, when he was just 13 years old. Living on the street since he was 7 years old, with no knowledge of who his parents were nor documentation to prove his identity, Riki was prevented from accessing basic human rights and faced hardships on a daily basis.
In 2016, Riki contracted a rare disease, dry patches spread around his body bringing with it a sense of numbness. Whilst Riki attempted to receive medical attention, visiting a local public health clinic, the doctors were unable to provide him with any proper help. This was an outcome of Riki’s position as an identity-less street youth limiting his ability to access proper medical help as well as his lack of the funds to pay for the treatments due to financial problems.
By 2020, recognizing the gravity of his situation, Riki turned to us for help. The members of Harapan Fian took on Riki’s case instantly, assisting in Riki’s admission to a local hospital as well as further advocating for identity documentation on his behalf. During this time in the hospital Riki was finally diagnosed with a severe case of leprosy, this being due to the lack of treatment for such an extended period. Over the next month Harapan Fian engaged in fierce negotiations with numerous hospitals and health clinics, a key barrier being once again Riki’s lack of identification, this resulting in a refusal to treat his leprosy. Thankfully after extended negotiations, Riki was able to receive medical therapy.
Our relationship with Riki continued for the next two years, as members of Harapan Fian would accompany Riki to his monthly examinations, acting as spokespersons and monitoring his recovery. By September 2022, with no leprosy bacteria left in his body, Riki had successfully completed his medical therapy.
Whilst fully recovered from his condition and some breakthrough on the documentation front, Riki continues to struggle to attain a normal life. Wishing to get married in the near future, Riki once again has been restricted by his lack of critical documentation such as that of a birth certificate.
If you would like to hear more about Riki’s story of supporting him in this next stage of his life, please reach out to the team at Harapan Fian.