Upaya Pencegahan Stunting dengan Optimalisasi Peran Posyandu Melalui Program Kemitraan Masyarakat

Permasalahan gizi yang penting dan perlu mendapat perhatian khusus di Indonesia adalah stunting. Kasus stunting juga ditemukan di Kabupaten Jember, Jawa Timur. Meskipun penanganan stunting membutuhkan waktu yang panjang, intervensi gizi-sensitif dan gizi-spesifik perlu untuk diperkenalkan kepada masyarakat. Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk memfasilitasi warga di Posyandu Aster 138A Jember berkaitan dengan upaya pencegahan stunting melalui kegiatan penyuluhan dan budidaya tanaman hidroponik, penyediaan sarana bermain ramah anak serta pelatihan pembuatan makanan tambahan. Kegiatan yang dilakukan selama kurun waktu Juli-September 2019 telah memberikan dampak dan hasil positif berupa peningkatan pengetahuan dan pengalaman dari para kader dan juga anggota Posyandu Aster 138A tentang urban farming melalui budidaya tanaman hidroponik serta pembuatan makanan tambahan dalam bentuk kukis dan nugget yang kaya akan zat besi. Selain itu, pada kegiatan pendirian sarana bermain anak yang dapat merangsang aktivitas motorik juga disambut baik oleh anak-anak yang berada di lingkungan Posyandu Aster 138A. Sebagai kesimpulan, program-program yang mendukung intervensi gizi-sensitif dan gizi spesifik dapat diterima dengan baik oleh masyarakat sasaran. Program seperti ini diharapkan dapat dilakukan berkelanjutan untuk membantu mencegah stunting di Indonesia

A cross-sectional survey on cold chain management of vaccines in Cebu, Philippines

Background: Appropriate cold chain management is the foundation of safety and quality of vaccines. Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the cold chain management of the rural health units of Consolacion and Liloan, Cebu, Philippines on August to September 2017. Methods: Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, which was developed based on previous studies of cold chain survey. The questionnaire was administered to one personnel who is responsible for the storage and maintenance of vaccines in each public health center (PHC). Results: Of 42 targeted PHCs, only 52.4% (n=22) agreed to join in the study. The results of the study indicated that storage units and equipments were available in all 22 PHCs, even though only five of them (22.7%) stored vaccines. The majority of PHCs (90.9%, n=20) did not have access to a generator and only 9% (n=2) had a voltage stabilizer connected to the refrigerator. Refrigerators that were equipped with thermometer were only found in 68.2% (n=15) PHCs. No statistically significant relationship was found (p=0.159) between the statuses of PHCs to store vaccine and the level of knowledge of health professionals assigned to manage the vaccine. Conclusions: Primary health centers that store vaccines have at least one functional refrigerator and freezer and alternative power sources. Contingency plans in the event of mechanical and power failure as well as proper temperature monitoring are needed.  Personnel handling vaccines must be updated on proper storage and transport of such like the use of cold boxes and ice packs to maintain cold chain. Improvement of cold-chain management for vaccines in Cebu City’s PHCs was necessary