Posyandu (Integrated Healthcare Center) cadres serve as the frontline of healthcare services at the community level. It is through these dedicated individuals that education on maternal and child health, stunting prevention, and toddler growth monitoring begins. Therefore, strengthening the capacity of these cadres is a crucial step toward achieving higher-quality primary healthcare services.
Driven by this spirit, PT Gowa Makassar Tourism Development Tbk (GMTD), in collaboration with the Maccini Sombala Public Health Center (Puskesmas), organized the Posyandu Cadres Workshop for the Maccini Sombala Work Area at Madrid Hall, Akkarena, on Friday (26/6). This initiative is part of GMTD’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program under the Tangguh (Resilient) pillar of the group-wide initiative "Lippo Untuk Indonesia PASTI" (Smart, Green, Prosperous, Resilient, and Independent).
A total of 80 Posyandu Cadres from 16 Posyandus participated in the training, which was designed to enhance their competence in supporting the transformation of primary healthcare services. The chosen theme, "Posyandu Cader Competence in Improving Public Health Status," focused on strengthening the knowledge and skills of cadres in delivering services across six Minimum Service Standards (SPM) in health, ranging from services for pregnant women, infants, toddlers, school-aged children and adolescents, to productive-age individuals and the elderly.
Chief Operating Officer of GMTD, Jemmy Andreas Persang, stated that sustainable regional development is determined not only by the quality of infrastructure but also by the quality of the people who live and grow within it. "We believe that sustainable development must go hand in hand with improving the community's quality of life. Through this collaboration with the Maccini Sombala Public Health Center, we hope that Posyandu cadres will be better equipped to become strategic partners in delivering closer, faster, and higher-quality healthcare services to the community."
Jemmy added that this workshop also served as a platform for cadres to exchange experiences, expand their networks, and strengthen collaboration to support health programs within the Maccini Sombala Public Health Center's working area.
A similar sentiment was shared by the Head of the Maccini Sombala Public Health Center, drg. St. Hamsia, M.Adm.Kes. According to her, Posyandu cadres play a vital role as a bridge between healthcare professionals and the community. "Enhancing cadres competence is a long-term investment in public health. Support from the business sector, like GMTD, demonstrates that improving healthcare service quality requires cross-sector collaboration so that the benefits can be felt more broadly."
The workshop featured two speakers from the Makassar City Health Office. Namchar Kautshar, SKM, MM, M.Kes presented a session titled "Competent Cadres for Quality Posyandu Services," emphasizing the importance of cadres competence in providing high-quality promotive and preventive care. Meanwhile, Nuraeni, S.ST discussed "Assistance Skills for Pregnant and Lactating Mothers," covering nutritional education, exclusive breastfeeding, maternal and infant health monitoring, as well as efforts to prevent stunting starting from pregnancy.
The interactive discussion session held throughout the workshop allowed cadres to share their field experiences while seeking solutions to various healthcare challenges in their respective neighborhoods.
To support Posyandu operations, GMTD also distributed 16 infant scales and 16 adult scales to each of the Posyandus operating within the Maccini Sombala Public Health Center area.
Through this activity, GMTD hopes that Posyandu cadres will increasingly act as agents of change, capable of educating the public on the importance of clean and healthy living behaviors. This initiative also aims to accelerate stunting reduction, improve maternal and child health, and control disease at the community level.
For GMTD, collaboration with the government, health institutions, and the community is an essential component of building a region that grows not only physically but also thrives in its overall quality of life. The company firmly believes that investing in public health is a long-term investment toward creating a healthy, productive, and sustainable community.