The Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), in collaboration with the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI), has organized a dissemination event on the preparedness assessment of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health, along with a discussion on best practices in disaster response in Indonesia. In a hybrid format, this event took place on December 12, 2024, at Noormans Hotel, Semarang, involving participants from various regions, including Aceh, West Sumatra, Central Java, and East Java.
The event was attended by academics and practitioners, including faculty members from the Public Health Study Program at UNNES Faculty of Medicine, who served as the research team. These included Prof. Dr. Widya Hary Cahyati, S.KM., M.Kes., Dr. Evi Widowati, S.KM., M.Kes., Efa Nugroho, S.KM., M.Kes., and Alfiana Ainun Nisa, S.KM., M.Kes., along with students.
The event was opened with remarks by Dr. RR. Sri Ratna Rahayu, M.Kes., Ph.D. (Vice Dean I of Faculty of Medicine UNNES) and Farid Husni, SH (National Board Member of PKBI), who emphasized the crucial role of academics and practitioners in strengthening community preparedness for disasters through cross-sector collaboration. In her speech, she stated that this event represents a continuous effort to enhance community capacity in disaster response. She also highlighted the importance of data-driven and evidence-based approaches in supporting the implementation of more effective and sustainable preparedness strategies.
The main session of the event featured presentations on the findings of the MISP preparedness assessment in Aceh, West Sumatra, Central Java, and East Java. This session aimed to provide an overview of the preparedness and capacity of these regions, helping to identify key areas requiring further intervention and serving as a foundation for developing a structured and targeted reproductive health preparedness program.
The event continued with the presentation of best practices in disaster response by Elisabeth Widyastuti, S.KM., M.Kes. (DED PKBI Central Java) and Arfen Drinata (DED West Sumatra). PKBI’s disaster response efforts included the implementation of MISP with various findings, including those related to access to contraceptive services during disaster situations.
The discussion was enriched by responses from Drs. Pangarso Suryotomo, M.MB (Director of Preparedness at the National Disaster Management Agency/BNPB) and Dr. Ratih Rahayuningsih (Central Java Provincial Health Office). Drs. Pangarso welcomed the research findings and expressed interest in developing further collaboration by integrating MISP assessment indicators into the Disaster-Resilient Village (DESTANA) initiative. Similarly, Dr. Ratih outlined the strategic steps taken by the Central Java Provincial Health Office to enhance MISP preparedness.
