Mother’s Day, celebrated annually on December 22nd, serves as a national occasion to honor the significant role and enduring contributions of Indonesian women throughout the nation’s history. This day is not only a celebration of love but also a reflection on the struggles and achievements of women in Indonesia.
Mother’s Day was established to commemorate the First Indonesian Women’s Congress, which took place on December 22, 1928, in Yogyakarta. This congress marked a significant milestone, as women from diverse backgrounds convened to advocate for shared interests, including education, health, children’s rights, and women’s contributions to the national independence movement.
PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro), through its subsidiary in West Sulawesi, initiated the National Mother’s Day commemoration by organizing a series of talk shows and health education activities at the community level.
This event provided an important opportunity for posyandu cadres, who consistently deliver health services to community members in Astra Agro’s operational areas, to convene and collaborate.
The series of events, held on Tuesday, December 22nd, was attended by approximately 300 internal and external posyandu cadres mentored by Astra Agro in West Sulawesi. Despite the rainy weather, participants remained enthusiastic and engaged throughout the event.
The event, themed “From Mother’s Embrace and Father’s Support, Healthy and Strong Children Grow,” aimed to enhance the role of posyandu cadres in supporting maternal and child health. Activities focused on growth and development monitoring, nutrition education, and strengthening parenting practices as concrete measures to prevent growth failure and stunting.
Astra Agro collaborated with the Inisiasi Muda community from Tikke Raya Village, Pasangkayu Regency, which serves as its fostered community. Inisiasi Muda is a youth organization actively engaged in environmental and social initiatives, consistently demonstrating commitment through activities such as the Posyandu Cadre Talkshow in partnership with Astra Agro.
In partnership with the Breastfeeding Care Community, Astra Agro and Inisiasi Muda invited two pediatric specialists from the Regional General Hospital and the Head of the BKKBN Office to serve as speakers for the talk show.
dr. Andi Handriyati, a pediatrician at AKO Regional General Hospital in Pasangkayu Regency, expressed pride in participating in an initiative with a positive community impact. “This remarkable initiative from corporations and rural youth for the nation’s future generation on this special Mother’s Day,” she said.
dr. Andi emphasized that, as a working mother, ensuring her child’s optimal physical, mental, and emotional growth is essential. She also highlighted the critical role of posyandu cadres as the primary providers of community health services, noting the positive synergy achieved through these events and talk shows.Fatur Rachman Hidayat, chairman of Inisiasi Muda, underscored the importance of collaboration among companies, local governments, and community organizations. “We hope this activity will not only broaden our horizons but also strengthen our shared commitment,” said Fatur.
The initiative by Astra Agro’s subsidiary in West Sulawesi is part of a broader series of programs implemented by all Astra Agro subsidiaries across their operational regions, reflecting the company’s commitment to social responsibility in the health sector.
In 2024, Astra Agro has implemented programs to support government efforts to improve health outcomes, primarily through Community Health Activity Centers (PK2M) based on the Posyandu model.
PK2M activities encompass mentoring, education, and the provision of facilities and infrastructure support to 335 Posyandu across villages within Astra Agro’s operational areas. Additionally, Astra Agro has distributed supplementary feeding (PMT) and vitamins to 3,342 pregnant women and 18,570 infants and toddlers in these communities.
Consistent with the objectives of the Mother’s Day commemoration activities in West Sulawesi, the company has also provided support to address stunting among children in its operational areas.
