UNS – The LPDP Scholarship Recipient Association at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta organized a maternal health education session. The event occurred in collaboration with the Master’s Program in Public Health of the UNS Graduate School. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of postpartum care and promote overall maternal well-being in local communities.
The program took place on Tuesday (30/4/2025) in the Pasar Kliwon Sub-district, Surakarta. It specifically targeted pregnant women and their families in the Gajahan Community Health Center (Puskesmas) area. This session is part of a community service effort aimed at increasing understanding of the postpartum period. The postpartum period is a critical stage that significantly affects both maternal and infant health.
Empowering Mothers Through Postpartum Education
Handayani Sri Lestari, a postgraduate student in Public Health at UNS, led the session. She is also a midwife from Payaman Health Center in Lamongan. She highlighted essential topics, including postpartum self-care and recognizing danger signs after childbirth. She also discussed lactation management and emotional support for new mothers.
“The postpartum period often receives little attention, yet it is crucial for physical, emotional, and nutritional recovery. We hope mothers will feel more prepared, calm, and healthy during the postnatal phase through this event,” Handayani explained.
The event featured an interactive Q&A session and hands-on demonstrations of postpartum care techniques. It also included pre- and post-tests to evaluate participants’ knowledge gains. Pregnant women and their families responded with great enthusiasm and active participation.
Supporting Community Health and SDGs
Bima Pambudi, S.Pd., Chair of the LPDP UNS Association, expressed his appreciation for the community’s engagement. He encouraged participants to make full use of the information and skills they acquired. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining their families’ health and happiness.
“To all participants of ‘Maternal Health Education in Postpartum Preparation,’ or Kifas Cinta, I offer my encouragement. Please make the most of this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and practices,” Bima stated.
This community service program supports the achievement of the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3). SDG 3 focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
The event concluded with the distribution of maternal health kits to all participants. Organizers hope that similar outreach initiatives will continue and expand to benefit more communities across Surakarta in the future. Humas UNS
