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Marlina, a 27-year-old woman who works at an office in Jalan MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, relied on a motorcycle courier service to have her breast milk delivered to her baby at home every work day. But since December, she’s had to resort to an unenviable alternative ever since motorcycles were banned from entering Jalan MH Thamrin.
“The courier said he can’t pick up the breast milk because motorcycles are banned from going into Thamrin. If that is the case, we’ve become victims [of the motorcycle ban]. I’m forced to give my baby infant formula as an alternative to breast milk,” Marlina said, as quoted by Warta Kota.
Marlina, whose baby boy was born in August 2014, had planned to feed her baby exclusively with breast milk for the first six months of his life, as suggested by her doctor. When Marlina returned to work in November, she relied on a courier service to deliver her breast milk from her office to her home for Rp 55,000 each day. But she wasn’t aware that the government’s motorcycle ban would put a dent on her plans.
“I know, however good infant formula is, breast milk is better. But what option do I have?” she said.
Agus Kurniawan, head of operations at a courier service, PT Arga Nirwana Express, said they were forced to shut down their breast milk delivery service despite demands from customers.
“Essentially, since motorcycles aren’t allowed into Thamrin anymore, we’ve had to stop our delivery service,” Agus said.
Should the government give an exception to the motorcycle ban for the breast milk delivery service so that babies can get the nutrition they need?
