IBI Opens Up The Possibility Of All Honorary Midwives In Central Sulawesi To Be Pulled Into PPK

A number of health workers cried during their last respects to the midwife Ilah Kurnia who died from COVID-19 at the Indramayu Hospital, West Java, in July 2021. (Antara)

SULTENG - Non-ASN or temporary workers in all government agencies will be removed in 2023. The Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) said it would fight for all midwives in Central Sulawesi (Sulteng) from being abolished.

The Chair of the Central Sulawesi IBI, Euis Bianca, opened up the possibility that all midwives in 13 regencies and cities in Central Sulawesi would be appointed as Government Employees with an Employment Agreement (PPPK) if honorariums were abolished starting November 28 next year.

"Currently there are 5,437 midwives in 13 districts and cities in Central Sulawesi. IBI administrators in districts and cities are still continuing to record so that no midwife is not recorded," said Euis in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, Friday, June 24.

He explained that after all honorary midwives were recorded, IBI would validate the data for each midwife, both those working in government and private health facilities (faskes).

After the validation process is complete, IBI will submit the data to the district, city and provincial health offices so that they can be accommodated for appointment as PPPK.

"Our hope is that there will be no honorary midwives who are not appointed as PPKK in 2023. Therefore, it is necessary to cooperate with IBI branch managers in the regions to help them," he said.

Euis said that the existence of a midwife is very much needed by the community, especially by mothers and children who live in rural areas to get health services.

She is worried that there will be no more honorary midwives who have been serving in rural areas, because the policy of eliminating honorariums will have an impact on the quality of maternal and child health.

"Midwives are still at the forefront to prevent deaths experienced by mothers and children, especially for mothers who are pregnant until they give birth and children who are 1,000 days old from birth," he said.