Photo: Extensive facilities and a well-rounded team of health professionals are attracting more Papuan women to Getentiri Village’s puskesmas for prenatal and delivery help
BOVEN DIGOEL – Tracking fetal growth and maternal health is vital during pregnancy. Yet, in rural areas, this is impeded by a lack of self-screening tools and services at local health centers. To meet such needs, facilities often rely on third-party initiatives or partnerships with nearby clinics.
The puskesmas in Getentiri Village, Jair District, is no exception. As a primary medical provider managed by the government, it works closely with TSE Group’s Asiki Clinic to deliver effective prenatal care.
From time to time, both teams provide check-ups, consultations, and birth planning, among other posyandu (maternal and child health) services for TSE Group’s immediate and surrounding communities.
Local women and children can access these services every first Thursday of the month. Here, expectant mothers can monitor their baby’s development and early complications in an ultrasound session equipped by TSE Group. They can also get steady supplies of vitamins to help them power through pregnancy and labor.
Now, more and more people are attending the monthly event, thanks to the extensive facilities and well-rounded team of health professionals. Indigenous women especially seek prenatal and delivery help, which increases their chances of survival and those of their babies.
Photo: Posyandu services also benefit parents who seek to monitor their child’s physical growth
Parents are also using posyandu services to look for stunting risks and dangerous diseases. Children are measured for weight, height, head circumference, and upper-arm circumference to check for signs. They also receive basic vaccinations.
“Posyandu events really help us keep track of development milestones through things like height and weight measurements. These tests allow us parents to stay informed on health and especially nutritional status,” said participant Yosefina Saima. “At these events, we also get supplementary food, which makes the kids happy.”
Each month, there are dozens to hundreds of people at the initiative, whose goal is to oversee the physical and nutritional health of infants and toddlers across TSE Group’s locations, said midwife on duty Feby Samidah.
“We serve around 80–100 children and 40–50 mothers-to-be at each event at Asiki Clinic,” Feby said on Wednesday (8/19/2026). “[One of our activities is] vaccinations for babies and toddlers, which we hope will prevent diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and polio.”
Since 2005, Asiki Clinic has transcended preventive care, becoming a hub for parenting education, child growth tracking, and prenatal support.
Alongside the Getentiri District’s puskesmas, this facility seeks to bridge local communities and healthcare systems through regular delivery of health services. These include height and weight exams for children, early vaccinations, and pregnancy check-ups, which are necessary measures to ensure maternal and child well-being. (PR)
