UNAIR NEWS – Geliat Airlangga (Healthy Mother and Child Movement) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) conducted health education and visited Posyandu (Integrated Health Service Center). The agenda was held to monitor and decrease the tuberculosis (TB) rate in children.
Alongside eleven lecturers from UTM, the agenda was held on Monday, October 16, 2023, at the East Perak Posyandu, Pabean, Surabaya. Before the visit, all participants attended a TB disease risk awareness session at the subdistrict office.
Child health
Priyo Susilo Skep Ns, a representative from the Surabaya City Health Office was featured in the agenda. One of the Surabaya government’s programs focuses on reducing maternal and child deaths due to TB.
“Currently, we focus on reducing the number of children with TB. Hopefully, Surabaya will be a child-friendly city. They are the future generation,” he said.
Supporting the statement, Mega Moeharyono Puteri drg Ph.D. Sp KGA stated that child growth and development are essential to achieving a healthy child. “We should pay attention to the child’s age development, especially during the first 1,000 days of growth, which significantly influences their health,” she said.
Prof. Dr. Nyoman Anita Damayanti drg MS added that child health goes beyond the family’s priority. It is a shared responsibility.
“The maternal and child death rate soared in 2015. However, effective collaboration between each community group, the government, academicians, and medical workers can cut down the rate,” she said.
Posyandu visit
To see the role of related parties in maintaining maternal and child health, Geliat Airlangga and the UTM lecturers visited the Posyandu. They saw children receiving health check-ups first-hand.
“Every month, the East Perak Puskesmas conducts check-ups for children. The staff will perform screenings on mothers and children to ensure their health is not compromised,” said Muhammad Januar Rizal SSTP MSi the Subdistrict Head of Pabean Cantian Subdistrict.
Author: Iratri Puspita
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
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