I’d come with several
colleagues to see one of UNICEF’s programmes in action. With the Government of
Indonesia, we’ve helped to train a local midwife and several volunteers, known
as cadres, to teach women about good nutrition both during pregnancy and after
their baby is born. The cadres also work with fathers and older members of the
community so that they can best support these new mothers.
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Expectant mothers
learn about breastfeeding and good nutrition during a game in Pandes, Central
Java.
© UNICEF Indonesia/2014/Anup Tiwari
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Six or seven pregnant
women sat in a circle on the floor of the hall, taking it in turns to try to pluck
a fish-shaped piece of paper from the centre of the circle using a fishing rod.
There were smiles and laughter as the women enjoyed the game.
On the back of each
paper fish was written a word – for example “food” or “hygiene”. The woman who
caught each fish would begin by talking about her approach to the topic. The
others would then share their knowledge and experience in a discussion.
The midwife and the
volunteers would listen, correcting any misconceptions about nutrition during
pregnancy, and breastfeeding new born babies. They made sure the women learned about
the importance of exclusively breastfeeding their baby until 6 months. They
also offered advice on how to hold the baby during breastfeeding and how often
to feed them.
The dedication of the
team of volunteer cadres was impressive. Together they had decided on a uniform
and each one of them proudly wore it. There was obviously a strong sense of
community in the village. Indonesia has decentralised its political system and
village heads can now decide on how funds are spent to benefit the community.
The volunteer cadres seemed motivated by the feeling of being in control of
their own destiny.
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A boy is weighed at a
health centre in Paseban village, Klaten
© UNICEF Indonesia/2012/Anup Tiwari
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The training of the
cadres and midwives is part of UNICEF’s nutrition programme in Central Java. More
than one third of Indonesia’s under-fives are stunted or too short for their
age, because they don’t get the nutrients they need in early childhood. The
effects of stunting are lifelong and irreversible. Children who are stunted are
more likely as adults to be less educated, poorer, less healthy and more prone
to diseases.
