Gowa, 3 February 2026 — The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, in collaboration with the Faculty of Nursing of Ateneo de Davao University, Philippines, organized an International Community Service Collaboration at Somba Opu Public Health Center (Puskesmas), Gowa Regency. This community empowerment program focused on improving health literacy among pregnant women to prevent maternal and neonatal emergencies.

The event was officially opened by the Dean of FMHS Unismuh Makassar, Prof. Dr. dr. Suryani As’ad, M.Sc., Sp.GK(K), together with the Head of Somba Opu Public Health Center, drg. Is Puji Harijati. In her remarks, Prof. Suryani emphasized the importance of synergy between academic institutions and primary health care services in strengthening promotive and preventive efforts.
“International collaboration that directly engages the community represents a tangible manifestation of higher education’s commitment to enhancing maternal and child health through comprehensive and sustainable education, particularly within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar,” she stated.

The main session was delivered by Grace E. Guitguiten, MN, RN, LPT, on the topic Mental Health Education of Pregnant Women to Prevent Maternal and Neonatal Emergency. The session highlighted the importance of maternal mental health during pregnancy as an integral component of preventing complications and improving the safety and well-being of both mother and baby.

The program involved all study programs within FMHS Unismuh Makassar through a series of educational and preventive services, including: blood pressure examinations and pregnancy health education (Undergraduate Medical Education Program); dissemination on the importance of complete administrative documentation for childbirth among third-trimester pregnant women (Hospital Administration Program); education on proper independent medical record management through the utilization of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook as a service control instrument (Hospital Administration Program); dental health education during pregnancy (Dentistry Program); identification of pregnancy risk factors to prevent prolonged labor (Midwifery Undergraduate and Professional Programs); leprosy awareness counseling in commemoration of World Leprosy Day under the theme “Detect Leprosy Early, Treat Completely, and End Stigma” (Medical Profession Program); education on the signs and symptoms of obstetric emergencies to prevent delays in referral (Medical Profession Program); and Choking Emergency Response for Expectant Mothers and Babies training (Nursing Program).

A total of 30 pregnant women from the Somba Opu Public Health Center service area actively participated in the program through health screenings, educational sessions, and basic emergency response simulations.

The Head of Somba Opu Public Health Center, drg. Is Puji Harijati, expressed her appreciation for the collaboration. “This activity provides direct benefits to the community, particularly pregnant women, through practical and primary care–based education tailored to local needs,” she remarked.

Through this initiative, FMHS Unismuh Makassar reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community-based health education and expanding international collaboration to enhance maternal and child health outcomes at both local and regional levels.

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Kolaborasi Internasional FKIK Unismuh Makassar dan Ateneo de Davao University Gelar Pemberdayaan Masyarakat untuk Ibu Hamil di Gowa

Gowa, 3 Februari 2026 — Fakultas Kedokteran dan Ilmu Kesehatan (FKIK) Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar bersama Faculty of Nursing Ateneo de Davao University, Filipina, menyelenggarakan kegiatan International Community Service Collaboration di Puskesmas Somba Opu, Kabupaten Gowa. Program pemberdayaan masyarakat ini berfokus pada peningkatan literasi kesehatan ibu hamil guna mencegah kegawatdaruratan maternal dan neonatal.

Kegiatan dibuka secara resmi oleh Dekan FKIK Unismuh Makassar, Prof. Dr. dr. Suryani As’ad, M.Sc., Sp.GK(K) bersama Kepala Puskesmas Somba Opu, drg. Is Puji Harijati. Dalam sambutannya, Prof. Suryani menegaskan pentingnya sinergi akademik dan layanan kesehatan primer dalam upaya promotif dan preventif.
“Kolaborasi internasional yang menyentuh langsung masyarakat merupakan wujud nyata pengabdian perguruan tinggi dalam meningkatkan kualitas kesehatan ibu dan anak melalui edukasi yang komprehensif dan berkelanjutan khususnya bagi Fakultas Kedokteran dan Ilmu Kesehatan Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar,” ujarnya.

Materi utama disampaikan oleh Grace E. Guitguiten, MN, RN, LPT dengan topik Mental Health Education of Pregnant Women to Prevent Maternal and Neonatal Emergency. Edukasi menekankan pentingnya kesehatan mental ibu selama kehamilan sebagai bagian integral dari pencegahan komplikasi dan peningkatan keselamatan ibu serta bayi.

Program ini melibatkan seluruh program studi di lingkungan FKIK Unismuh Makassar melalui rangkaian layanan edukatif dan preventif, meliputi:
1. Pemeriksaan tekanan darah ibu hamil dan edukasi kesehatan kehamilan (Prodi Pendidikan Dokter).
2. Sosialisasi pentingnya kelengkapan dokumen administrasi persalinan pada ibu hamil trimester III (Prodi Administrasi Rumah Sakit).
3. Edukasi tertib administrasi rekam medis mandiri melalui pemanfaatan Buku KIA sebagai instrumen kendali pelayanan (Prodi Administrasi Rumah Sakit).
4. Edukasi kesehatan gigi selama kehamilan (Prodi Kedokteran Gigi).
5. Pengenalan faktor risiko kehamilan untuk mencegah persalinan lama (Prodi Sarjana dan Profesi Bidan).
6. Penyuluhan kusta dalam rangka Hari Kusta Sedunia dengan tema “Kusta Temukan Dini, Hadapi Tuntas, dan Akhiri Stigma” (Prodi Profesi Dokter).
7. Edukasi tanda dan gejala kegawatdaruratan obstetri untuk mencegah keterlambatan rujukan (Prodi Profesi Dokter).
8. Choking Emergency Response for Expectant Mothers and Babies atau penanganan darurat tersedak pada ibu hamil dan bayi (Prodi Keperawatan).

Sebanyak 30 ibu hamil dari wilayah kerja Puskesmas Somba Opu mengikuti kegiatan ini secara aktif melalui pemeriksaan kesehatan, penyuluhan, serta simulasi keterampilan dasar penanganan kegawatdaruratan.

Kepala Puskesmas Somba Opu, drg. Is Puji Harijati, menyambut baik kolaborasi tersebut. “Kegiatan ini memberikan manfaat langsung bagi masyarakat, khususnya ibu hamil, melalui edukasi yang aplikatif dan berbasis kebutuhan layanan primer,” tuturnya.

Melalui kegiatan ini, FKIK Unismuh Makassar menegaskan komitmennya dalam memperkuat peran pendidikan kesehatan berbasis pengabdian masyarakat serta memperluas kolaborasi internasional untuk peningkatan derajat kesehatan ibu dan anak di tingkat lokal maupun regional.