Bezorgd om Jan Bal
by Niels Blekemolen
Concerned about Jan BalInspired by American management guru Michael Porter, in the year 2005 the Dutch Ministry of Health decided to let market forces play a bigger role in Dutch health careDespite the financial benefits that came with these reforms it is becoming more clear that there is also a downside to it. The system works in a way that makes it unclear who, in the end, is responsible for the well being of those in need of help.The story is about a man with a limited capability to take care of himself or to reflect on his situation. Jan doesn’t have a social network and the help he is supposed to be getting is failing. He seems to be of the radar. He has a serious long condition but his house is always dusty. Nobody ever cleans it. He has not had a shower for more than two months and he hasn’t been outside his house for over a year. He is not able to because of the condition of his health. When I ask him about it he simply replies ‘I need some more practice, than things will get better’
This is an important piece of work, not only for its visual and artistic values, but also because of its political and humanistic content. Not only has Niels Blekemolen photographed Jan Bal with respect and sympathy, he has also been part of Jans life, looking after him over a long period of time. Niels Blekemolen made an original, moving publication of this work, an intitiative that deserves to be honoured and an example to be followed by other photographers.
Niels Blekemolen has made an intriguing documentary.
The photo’s look simple but they express the life of Jan Bal in all their facets.
Humanity and integrity, Niels has made a document that painfully describes a situation where the human health care fails.
I can fully agree with the psitive comments of Bertien van Manen and Ron Does.
This is very good!!!
This is more than very good!!!!
I feel the lonelynes through all pictures!
Mijn stem heb je, en terecht….!
Woorden zijn niet nodig bij de foto’s van Niels Blekemolen. Ze geven eeen duidelijk beeld van waar men in gebreke blijft.
sprekende foto’s die een scherp beeld creeren