This blog was originally published by the EVERYONE Campaign. Written by Patricia Norimarna.
A coalition of civil societies that included Save the Children, World Vision Indonesia, White Ribbon Alliance Indonesia (Aliansi Pita Putih Indonesia/APPI), PKBI /Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association ( Member Association of IPPF) , Muhammadiyah, and Plan Indonesia, coordinated a national Citizens’ Hearing on 13 March in Jakarta, Indonesia. Representatives from 42 districts, the government and the civil society participated in a discussion focusing on maternal and child health. The group discussed the need for good nutrition practices, better immunization laws and access to trained health workers in order to achieve Indonesia’s MDG 4 target.
The civil society presented six points of recommendation to the Indonesian Government that would be taken to the global Citizens’ Hearing planned at the World Health Assembly. Representatives of Ministry of Health who attended the event said, “We are really grateful for the coalition’s hard work. This is a great example of civil society’s active participation.”
Prior to the national hearing, focus group discussions were held in 40 districts between late February and early March.
Representatives from the National Development Planning Agency were invited to the national hearing to share the 5-year Development Plan on Health & Nutrition (2015-2019). We also invited representatives from four thematic areas – nutrition, maternal and newborn mortality, adolescent health and immunization. We also held a group discussion on the topics surrounding PMNCH.
Save the Children lead the development and analysis that came out of the nation Citizens’ Hearing.
As a follow-up to the analysis report we will arrange series of meeting with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliamentarians in a run to the World Health Assembly and get stronger commitments from them. The report will also be shared with the National Development Planning Agency and the National Family Planning Agency amongst others, to ensure a wider reach.