Indonesia Hosts 7 Countries for Training on Maternal and Child Health Handbook in North Sulawesi - Sharing Indonesian expertise to improve global maternal and child health -

Manado, October 21, 2024 - The Indonesian Ministry of Health, Ministry of State Secretariat, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), are hosting the "Knowledge Sharing Program on Maternal and Child Health Handbook" from October 20 to 25, 2024, in North Sulawesi Province. This international training program brings together approximately 21 maternal and child health administrators from seven countries, namely Burundi, Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, Nepal, Timor Leste, and Japan across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific region, as well as from five Indonesian provinces.

Indonesia, with JICA's technical cooperation, pioneered the adoption of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook in 1993. Over the past three decades, Ministry of Health supported by Japanese experts, has developed its unique version of the handbook, incorporating local characteristics and cultural elements. This successful collaboration has yielded significant improvements in maternal and child health outcomes, with the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel increasing from 71% in 2004 to 95% in 2022.

During the opening remarks, Ms. Noviyanti, Head of Bureau of Foreign Technical Cooperation, Ministry of State Secretariat stated, “Improving maternal and child health is not only an investment in the future but also a driver of broader societal development. The MCH Handbook is a vital approach to advancing maternal and child health.” Additionally, Ms. Rina Setyawati, Director of International Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented, “the MCH Handbook is not just a tool for mothers and children, but also a means of empowerment for the entire community.”

Prof. dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Vice Minister of Health, also expressed optimism about the continued use of the handbook: “We would like to take this opportunity to extend the best practice of MCH Handbook and look forward to seeing participating countries apply them. At the same time, we in Indonesia are excited to learn from the experiences and practices of others.

The training program aims to strengthen the capacity of health workers and program managers in using the MCH Handbook to monitor child health, growth, and development. It also focuses on improving inter-professional and cross-sectoral collaboration to support the handbook's utilization.

Participants engage in various activities, including field trips to hospitals and public health centers in North Sulawesi, allowing them to observe Indonesia's MCH services firsthand. The program also features knowledge-sharing sessions where participating countries can exchange experiences and best practices.

Indonesia's role in hosting this international training program demonstrates its growing influence in South-South cooperation, particularly in the field of maternal and child health. The country's experience with the MCH Handbook has even contributed to the World Health Organization's guidelines on home-based records for maternal, newborn, and child health.

This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to the global improvement of maternal and child health, supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).