Padang, (09/11). The Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP) on Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook is once again being held offline by the Ministry of State Secretariat, Ministry of Health, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), after having been implemented online for three years during the Covid-19 pandemic. With the theme Empowering Families in Continuum of Care for Maternal, New-born, and Child Health through Collaboration across Sectors Using MCH Handbook, the training program was held in West Sumatra Province from the 10th to the 14th of September 2023. It was attended by 26 people, including 16 international participants from 8 countries (Cambodia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam) and 10 local participants from the province.
During his remarks at the opening ceremony of the KSP MCH Program (11/09) at the Governor's Office of West Sumatra Province, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, emphasized the significance of the Maternal and Child Health Book (MCH) as an effective guide for monitoring the provision of integrated health services for mothers and children in an effort to improve maternal and child health.
Mahyeldi Ansharullah, the Governor of West Sumatra, applauded the selection of West Sumatra as a learning location for enhancing the use of MCH Books and stated, "Improving maternal and child health is in line with our priorities."The Provincial Government of West Sumatra has integrated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators into the 2021-2026 Regional Medium Term Development Plan of West Sumatra Provinces.
Takehiro Yasui, Chief Representative of JICA Indonesia, was also present and stated that JICA shares the same concern regarding how to guarantee coordination and family empowerment through the efficient use of the MCH Books. Yasui also emphasized that the KSP MCH program seeks to develop future strategies for addressing issues pertaining to maternal and child health in a variety of countries.
The KSP MCH Handbook 2023 is delivered through a pedagogical approach that encompasses both interactive class discussions and field visits. These activities provide participants with the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences regarding the implementation of the MCH Handbook in their respective countries. The field visits specifically involve visits to diverse healthcare facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and posyandu, located in the cities of Padang, Solok, and Tanah Datar. The purpose of these visits is to enable participants to directly observe the practical application of health services for mothers and children in the West Sumatra Province.
Upon program completion, participants are anticipated to possess the ability to exchange insights on empowering families and engaging with diverse stakeholders in effectively utilizing the MCH Handbook to safeguard the well-being of mothers and children. They will draw inspiration from successful practices implemented in West Sumatra and other participating countries, while also reinforcing the commitment of all stakeholders to uphold the quality of health services for mothers and children.