Daftarsbmptn.com – Efforts to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Gresik Regency have received another significant boost through a collective initiative from the Gresik Women’s Movement, a community actively promoting issues of welfare, health, and community empowerment. In a dialogue and collaborative work forum held this week, the group formulated a series of concrete solutions to address a variety of growing social issues in the community. The movement’s primary focus is to ensure comprehensive, inclusive healthcare services are available and meet the needs of residents from all walks of life.
The event, which involved dozens of women’s community representatives, health activists, medical personnel, and community leaders, was held as a follow-up to the implementation of UHC in Gresik, which has achieved significant coverage but still faces a number of challenges. Forum participants agreed that although the National Health Insurance (JKN) membership rate in Gresik continues to increase, the quality of its use and public understanding of its benefits still require more serious attention.
Social Issues Are Key Challenges to Strengthening UHC
During the discussion, various social issues were identified as factors hindering effective access to healthcare services. Various issues such as poverty, lack of health literacy, domestic violence (DV), low economic independence for women, and unequal access to health services in rural areas were highlighted. According to the head of the Gresik Women’s Movement, popularly known as Mrs. Rini, these various social issues cannot be separated from the context of public health.
“When a mother is forced to postpone a medical check-up because she can’t afford transportation, or when a child doesn’t receive proper nutritional information because their parents’ education is limited, then the health issue is not just about facilities, but also about social structures,” she said.
Mrs. Rini emphasized that UHC should not only focus on the affordability of medical services, but also ensure that communities have the skills, knowledge, and adequate social support to utilize these services.
The Role of Women in Promoting Inclusive Health Services
One of the interesting highlights of this forum was the power of women as a key driver of social change. In many families, women make important decisions regarding health, from eating habits to scheduling medical check-ups. Therefore, strengthening women’s roles is considered key to supporting the success of UHC.
Forum participants conveyed the need for women to receive more intensive training in basic health literacy, reproductive health, family nutrition management, and early disease detection skills. This step is highly relevant considering that many health cases are treated late due to a lack of prior knowledge at the household level.
“We want women to be not only beneficiaries, but also key drivers of change. When women are aware, families are aware. When families are aware, communities become stronger,” emphasized one health activist present at the forum.
Concrete Strategies Formulated to Strengthen UHC
The Gresik Women’s Movement Forum produced various strategic recommendations aimed at strengthening the practical implementation of UHC. Some of these strategies include:
1. Community-Based Health Education
This program focuses on improving public health literacy through community classes, regular counseling, and educational materials provided in simple language. Priority issues include family nutrition, stunting prevention, maternal mental health, and the introduction of BPJS services.
2. Women’s Health Consultation Clinic
The women’s movement plans to establish a free consultation center to address complaints related to women’s health, including domestic violence, reproductive health, and economic constraints that affect access to health services.
3. Strengthening the Health Volunteer Network
Volunteers will be the spearhead for delivering health information. They will be trained to collect data on residents’ health needs, monitor the condition of infants, and assist residents with JKN administration.
4. Utilization of Information Technology
Forum participants also highlighted the importance of digitizing information. They proposed creating a simple platform containing health service schedules, health facility information, and guidance on selecting the right health service for users’ needs.
5. Advocacy for Equitable Services in Outlying Areas
Many areas in Gresik still face limited health facilities. The women will initiate advocacy with the local government to strengthen equitable service distribution, including the construction of sub-health centers (Puskesmas) and the provision of adequate medical personnel.
Regional Government Support Needed
On the occasion, a representative from the Gresik Health Office, who was also present, expressed appreciation for this movement and emphasized that the government is very open to collaboration. He stated that UHC will be more effective if the community, especially women, actively participates in monitoring and education.
“We need communities like this to bridge the government and the community. Many health policies will not be successful if they do not raise public awareness,” said the representative.
Towards More Equitable and Inclusive Health
The Gresik Women’s Movement concluded the forum with a declaration of long-term commitment. They emphasized that the struggle to strengthen UHC is not just a one-time program, but part of a mission to build a healthier, more equal, and more empowered Gresik community.
This initiative demonstrates how civil society, especially women, can play a significant role in driving systemic change. With a focused strategy and collaborative commitment, Gresik is expected to become an example of a region capable of implementing UHC inclusively, not only in terms of numbers, but also in terms of the quality of services and community well-being.
Through their collective work, the women of Gresik believe that health is a right, not a privilege, and that every citizen deserves to enjoy adequate and equitable services. This movement is proof that when women take action, real change begins to emerge.