15 Inspirational Midwives, Prevent Baby Stunting Through Pregnant Women

Do you often see a health campaign entitled Prevent Stunting in Babies? It’s not without reason, because the number of cases of stunted babies is still quite high in Indonesia.

Quoted from Detik.com, the 2021 Indonesian Nutritional Status Study (SSGI) stated that the stunting rate in infants in Indonesia was 24.4 percent, followed by wasting of 7.1 percent. SSGI even noted that one in four Indonesian children is stunted, which is the equivalent of around five million Indonesian children.

In addition, according to Kompas.com, Head of BKKBN Dr. (H.C) dr. Hasto Wardoyo Sp.OG (K) in a webinar entitled ‘Teenagers Care about Reproductive Health, Stunting, and Reducing Maternal Mortality Rate’ (15/8/2022), revealed that the infant mortality rate in Indonesia is still 24 per 1,000 and the maternal mortality rate is 230 per 100 thousand live births.

In commemorating National Nutrition Day 2023 on January 25, 2023, Human Initiative told a story about a program that has a noble goal of reducing stunting rates in Indonesia with preventive measures through pregnant women.

Looking for 15 Inspirational Midwives

Human Initiative, in one of its core programs, namely Human Initiative for Children, initiated a joint program with Kimia Farma and the Tangerang Regency Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) with the theme ‘The Role of Midwives in Safeguarding 1000 First Days of Life (HPK) in the Pandemic Period’.

In an effort to prevent stunting in infants, Midwives in Tangerang District were recruited to submit social project proposals at their respective clinics. The rigorous selection made the selection process for the 15 Inspiring Midwives Awardees carried out up to two times.

Of the 17 submitted proposals, only 14 attended and successfully presented them. After judging, 10 midwives were declared as Inspiring Midwife Awardees.

Because the quota had not been met, a second phase of proposal selection was carried out again until 13 candidates were selected. The assessment was carried out, the five highest scores were obtained and finally the quota of 15 Inspiring Midwives Awardees was fulfilled.

Together with stakeholders, then carry out theoretical and practical training in the form of increasing the capacity of managing social projects for midwives. Midwives receive special assistance in making Logical Framework Analysis (LFA), timelines, and budgets as part of social project designs.

It is hoped that at this stage midwives will be able to increase their knowledge in managing their respective social projects.