Strengthening Health Worker Capacity for Sustaining Indonesia's Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination Status through Collaborative Endeavors

Opening Speech by the Secretary of the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control, Yudhi Pramono. 

During the event, participants engaged in discussions about screening for tetanus vaccination status among pregnant women visiting healthcare facilities. 

Left to right: UNICEF Indonesia Country Office Chief of Health, Mrunal Setye; Directorate of Immunization MoH Indonesia Head of WCBA Immunization VPD Surveillance and AEFI Working Group, Endang Budi Hastuti; Head of the East Nusa Tenggara Health Department, Ruth D. Laiskodat; Assistant Director of the DFAT of the Government of Australia, Lauren Deutsch; WHO National Professional Officer for New Vaccines, Rodri Tanoto. 

 
During the opening remarks, Rodri Tanoto emphasised the importance of complete tetanus vaccination status for pregnant women in maintaining the elimination status of neonatal tetanus. 

Left to right: Head of the East Nusa Tenggara Health Office, Ruth D. Laiskodat; Assistant Director of the DFAT of the Government of Australia, Lauren Deutsch; WHO National Professional Officer, Rodri Tanoto. 

“When tetanus develops, mortality rates can be very high. Immunizing women and children with tetanus toxoid containing vaccines can prevent maternal and neonatal tetanus and save lives. Australia is proud to partner with Indonesia to support this important work in immunization and more broadly strengthening health systems into the future,” said Lauren Deutsch, Assistant Director, Indonesia Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"One of the most remarkable aspects was the revelation regarding the ASIK application. We had a newfound understanding because the implementation at the health centers did not align with the workshop materials," reflected Semi Malo, Surveillance and Immunization Sub Contingency Functional, Central Sumba District. ASIK is the new national electronic immunization registry that allows real-time data analysis and gaps identification. 

"The immunization coverage for women of childbearing age (WUS) has not reached its full potential. Our aspiration is that this workshop will serve as a means to guarantee its effective implementation. While the immunization itself is being done correctly, there remains room for improvement in the reporting procedures." 

Maria A. Eka, Head of the Family Health and Nutrition Section of Ende District Health Office, expressed how the workshop enhanced her understanding of tetanus vaccination. "Now, I will be sharing this knowledge with the midwives,” she said. 

Maria further discussed the plan to implement this newfound knowledge, stating, "We are currently conducting a visitation programme involving 26 health centers with obstetricians and pediatricians. We intend to incorporate the workshop's insights and advocate for health workers to diligently record and input the relevant data.” 

"The ASIK application assists us in screeningthe  immunization status from infants to women of childbearing age (WUS), thereby significantly contributing to accurate record-keeping,” said Karolus Lemak, Surveillance and Immunization Sub Contingency Functional of Lembata District Health Office. 

“Our primary challenge is limited internet connectivity, which has restricted our ability to input data to Puskesmas facilities. All Puskesmas facilities in Lembata have now adopted ASIK for data input. My implementation plan involves convening twelve Puskesmas staffs for a sensitization session, particularly focusing on WUS." 

 "The knowledge that left the most impression on me is the screening process. Previously, my understanding was solely derived from textbooks. Through this initiative, I hope that record-keeping on maternal and child health will improve, allowing for better collaboration with disease prevention and control colleagues,” said Jenny Boboy, Head of the Family health and nutrition section of South-Central Timor District Health Office. 

"Our implementation plan following the workshop is that upon our return, we intend to allocate space for colleagues from the disease prevention and control and the maternal and child health divisions to deliver key points concerning immunization intervals, status, and protection. This way, when they populate figures in their reports, everything aligns seamlessly," said Maryam Selly, Maternal and Child Health Manager of Rote Ndao District Health Office. 

Group photo with the participants of Women of Reproductive Age Workshop at Aston Hotel Kupang, Wednesday 14 June 2023. This workshop will contribute to their efforts to achieve optimal tetanus immunization coverage in women of childbearing age and maintain maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination.