‘Aisyiyah in Pangkep Bring IVA Reproductive Health Tests and Services to Remote Communities

According to Globocan data in 2012, cervical cancer is still one of the highest causes of death for women, causing 26 deaths per day in Indonesia. This is exacerbated by the low level of public knowledge and awareness about the dangers of the disease.

MAMPU partner ‘Aisyiyah continues to intensify their focus on reproductive health issues by improving women’s access to IVA and pap smear tests through advocacy and local events to improve early detection of cervical cancer. The activity has been continuously promoted through Balai Sakinah’ Aisyiyah (BSA) grassroots women’s groups formed and run with support from MAMPU-‘Aisyiyah is assisting local communities in remote areas in the Pangkajene and Islands Districts (Pangkep), in collaboration with the local Health Office and Village Health Post (Poskesdes), to bring affordable early cancer detection services to the community.

By involving the village midwife, the IVA test is carried out at the Poskesdes in each village, saving women travel time and expense to attend tests at the district health service (Puskesmas). This intervention by ‘Aisyiyah has heled ease access to reproductive health services and IVA tests for womenin Pangkep. In addition to the examinations, trained village midwives in the poskesdes also provide consultations related to reproductive health issues.

Nhany Rahman, MAMPU Program Coordinator for ‘Aisyiyah in Pangkep said that their initiative, known as Service Model (model layanan) had taken place in several villages.The first Poskesdes that received the IVA test service was the Binangtoa Poskesdes with support from the midwife of the Pundata Baji Health Center in March.

“IVA services and reproductive health consultations in Poskesdes are the results of advocacy conducted by ‘Aisyiyah to the puskesmas, we encourage puskesmas to provide services closer to women of childbearing age,” Nhany said.

According to Nhany, the Service Model could be implemented because the puskesmas themselves, especially the Pundata Banji health center head, Mr. H.Umar was very eager to conduct counseling about cervical cancer and IVA test in the Balai Sakinah ‘Aisyiyah (BSA) Mattoanging community.

“At the time of counseling, the midwife invited the mothers to take the IVA test at the puskesmas but then only two people could come because the distance from the puskesmas was far from their house. From then, an initiative emerged to open services at the Poskesdes,” said Nhany. In addition Nhany also added, the initiative would be scheduled regularly. Reproductive health services that are equipped with an IVA test is planned to be carried out every Tuesday at the Binangatoa Poskesdes.

“Alhamdulillah, during the first day of the reproductive health service in Poskesdes, 10 women came to do the test,” Nhany said with an excited tone.

This service approach will continue to be developed and will be discussed further with the Health Service and Puskesmas in Pangkep.

“We plan to introduce a number of formal agreements for the puskesmas and each PCA in the program target area to bring services closer to the Poskesdes,” said Nhany.

She added, “What is clear is that there are Poskesdes currently serving IVA. They are the Japing-Japing Poskesdes and Jollo Poskesdes in Bulu Cindea Village, and the latest being the Binangatoa Poskesdes.”

Nhany was very grateful for the spirit of collaboration between ‘Aisyiyah and the Puskesmas and Poskesdes. The midwives of the Puskesmas were willing to provide services for those in need including reproductive health services. “They even serve those who live in even coastal areas where they have to travel 5 kilometers through rice fields to reach the location and inspect the homes of the people they serve.”

Nhany expressed her hope that this initiative would have a positive impact on the reproductive health of Pangkep women. “We hope that with this service approach model, more women will be aware of the importance of IVA testing to prevent cervical cancer in women.”

Written by: Suri Putri (‘Aisyiyah)