Tombiobong, South Batui District, Central Sulawesi — The community-based health program entitled “Posyandu Activity and Nutrition Status Monitoring for the Tombiobong Community” was initiated by Prof. Veni (Universitas Hasanuddin) as part of a field-based intervention aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery among Remote Indigenous Communities in Banggai Regency. The activity was conducted on Saturday, 21 December 2024, from 08.00 to 12.00 WITA, at Polindes Tombiobong Hamlet, Maleo Jaya Village, South Batui District, Central Sulawesi Province. This initiative represents a sustained effort to improve maternal and child health outcomes in geographically isolated populations with limited access to essential health services.
The program was designed to strengthen early detection mechanisms for nutrition-related health problems, particularly stunting in children under five and chronic energy deficiency among pregnant women. Under the leadership of Prof. Veni, the activity focused on integrating community-based health services with field research to generate evidence-based interventions that are contextually relevant for remote populations. The intervention emphasized both direct Posyandu services and home-visit-based outreach strategies to ensure inclusivity of hard-to-reach households.
Session focus: integrated Posyandu services for stunting prevention in remote areas.
During implementation, the activity engaged a multidisciplinary team consisting of researchers, Sinorang Health Center staff, coordinating and village midwives, nurses, nutrition officers, Posyandu cadres, and members of the Tombiobong community. The target population included 25 households comprising 119 residents, with 15 infants and toddlers and 2 pregnant women identified as priority groups for nutritional monitoring. A total of 6 children under five and 1 pregnant woman attended the Posyandu session directly, while 7 additional toddlers were reached through structured home visits, reflecting adaptive service delivery in response to community mobility patterns and agricultural livelihoods.
The session included comprehensive health assessments such as weight and height measurements, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening, blood pressure monitoring for pregnant women, structured interviews, and nutrition education sessions. The findings revealed that out of 13 toddlers assessed, 5 were categorized as stunted based on height-for-age indicators, while the remaining 8 were within normal growth status. In addition, one pregnant woman was identified as severely undernourished with a MUAC of 21.5 cm and a critically low body mass index, indicating elevated maternal and fetal health risks.
The activity strongly contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being, through direct intervention in maternal and child nutrition monitoring and stunting prevention. It also aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education, through structured health education delivered to mothers and caregivers, and SDG 1: No Poverty, by reducing health-related vulnerabilities that perpetuate poverty cycles in remote communities. Furthermore, the initiative reflects SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration between Universitas Hasanuddin under Prof. Veni’s leadership, local healthcare workers, Posyandu cadres, and community stakeholders in strengthening integrated primary healthcare delivery systems. This intervention highlights the importance of culturally sensitive and community-embedded health services in addressing persistent nutrition challenges in remote indigenous populations.
