Posyandu Revitalization Is Necessary During A Pandemic

JAKARTA - The Director of Institutional and Village Cooperation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) Chaerul Dwi Sapta considers the revitalization of integrated service posts (posyandu) to be carried out during the current pandemic.

Chaerul said that the central government and local governments must carry out repositioning and related redefinition in carrying out coaching in stages through the posyandu operational working group (Pokjanal) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

"The repositioning and redefinition of Posyandu is important because as a community institution it is necessary to have organizational arrangements, institutional management arrangements and so on," said Chaerul in a virtual discussion, Friday, December 17.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Substances for Community Control, Directorate of Health Promotion, Community Empowerment, Ministry of Health RI, Ilvalita, said that posyandu is a type of village community institution (LKD).

However, Ilvalita considers that currently posyandu is an LKD regulated based on Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages and Permendagri Number 18 of 2018 concerning Village Community Institutions and Village Traditional Institutions, does not necessarily have implications for the transfer of roles and functions of Posyandu.

The reason is, from the aspect of program management, the role and function of the posyandu as it has been going on so far, is relatively appropriate. However, when viewed from the aspect of institutional management, the position of Posyandu as LKD must be formulated appropriately so that the role and function of Posyandu becomes stronger.

"Posyandu's position as LKD has consequences for the formulation of repositioning and redefinition of Posyandu in accordance with applicable laws and regulations," said Ilvalita. there is a different interpretation or bias in its management," he continued.

Similarly, UI Postgraduate Lecturer in Administrative Sciences, Rachma Fitriati, said that currently each village has 3 to 4 posyandu. However, he views that in terms of quality, there are still various problems faced by this village community institution.

"Therefore, there is a need for revitalization efforts to improve the performance and function of the Posyandu, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Posyandu as a whole must be able to provide convenience to the community in obtaining health services," explained Rachma.