Semarang, October 28,2017 | As an attempt to decrease maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate, which is still high in Indonesia, the Faculty of Public Health at Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang (Unimus) held a national seminar themed ““Reduction of Maternal Mortality Rate in the perspective of 2030 sustainable development goals: synergy and optimization of the roles of health workers”. The event was held in Semesta Hotel, Semarang. It was attended by the Vice Rector III (Drs. Samsudi Raharjo, M.M., M.T.), the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health (Mifbakhuddin, S.K.M., M.Kes.), and the rest of academicians in the Faculty of Public Health. dr. Agung Sugihantono, MPH from the Directorate General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, dr. yulianto Prabowo, M.Kes. (Head of Health Office of Central Java Province), Dr. Ir. Rahayu Astuti, M.Kes. (a lecturer of Unimus’ Faculty of Public Health, Indah Arum Sari, S.K.M. (a practitioner of Maternal and Child Health), as well as Public Health students and health workers in Semarang became the speakers of the seminar. To begin with, proposal presentation session had been held on the previous day in Unimus’ campus (October 27, 2017).
Through the Vice Rector III, the Rector of Unimus expressed his appreciation on the Faculty of Public Health, stating that the event was a good start to decrease maternal and infant mortality rates by sharing knowledge to the students at Unimus, especially those studying in the Faculty of Public Health. “For sure, Public Health students will work in health sector that interacts directly with the public. Thus, they have to understand their duties and responsibilities dealing with educating the people, including to educate them about decreasing maternal mortality rate,” the Vice Rector III explained. Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty explained that in accordance with maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate that were still high, synergy was needed in order to prevent them. “To be certain, main role of health workers is needed. It requires education, optimal role in health sector, and improvements of infrastructure because maternal and infant mortality rates are not only due to problems in health sector but also lack of quality infrastructure, such as lack of lack of fund for going to a health provider” he asserted.
