Strengthening primary health care requires not only health facilities that are ready to provide services, but also communities that can recognize, access, and make use of health services at the family level. This principle underpins Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia’s (YSI) efforts to develop the Inclusive Family Posyandu approach to strengthen family- and community-based health services.

Through the HAP KPP Project, YSI conducted a training session on the Five-Table Posyandu Service Functions and the Use of Medicinal Plants on September 21, 2026, at the Batu Sumbang Village Temporary Evacuation Site (TPA), Simpang Jernih Subdistrict, East Aceh Regency. The activity was attended by 24 participants, including Posyandu cadres, midwives and health workers, representatives of the Simpang Jernih Community Health Center (Puskesmas), village government representatives, traditional village healers, and the YSI team. Of these, 13 were Posyandu cadres from Batu Sumbang and Pante Kera villages, while the remaining 11 represented health workers, village government, and YSI.

The activity aimed to strengthen the capacity of health cadres, traditional and village midwives, health workers, and village governments to support the Integration of Primary Health Services (ILP), particularly by reinforcing the role of Posyandu as part of a primary health care network that is accessible to families. The Posyandu targeted for capacity strengthening are located in Batu Sumbang and Pante Kera villages, serving 225 families or 1,020 beneficiaries.

From Primary Health Care Integration to the Family Level

The Integration of Primary Health Services (ILP) promotes primary health care that is integrated, comprehensive, and oriented toward the life course. Within this framework, Posyandu plays an important role as one of the health service points closest to the community.

YSI has developed the Inclusive Family Posyandu approach to strengthen this role. The approach recognizes families as an essential part of health services, addresses needs throughout the life course, and encourages the involvement of groups that face barriers to accessing health care.

Under this approach, Posyandu is not viewed solely as a place where services are provided on scheduled service days. It also forms part of a community health support system that can identify family needs, provide education, conduct early detection, monitor health conditions, and connect community members with health workers and facilities.

In Pante Kera and Batu Sumbang, the approach has been implemented through dialogue sessions involving 10 families, 11 cadres, and one village midwife.

Strengthening Cadres as Links to Health Services

The capacity of health cadres is a key foundation for implementation. Therefore, the training focused on strengthening their skills in carrying out the five functions of Posyandu service tables: registration, weighing and measurement, recordkeeping, counseling and education, and service provision and follow-up.

Participants received learning materials and took part in practical exercises and service-flow simulations. Through these activities, cadres were trained to maintain accurate records, communicate in a friendly and inclusive manner, identify health concerns, and determine appropriate follow-up actions or referrals based on individual needs.

A total of 13 Posyandu cadres participated in simulations of the five-table service functions using practical equipment, including weighing scales, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes, blood pressure monitors, and other supporting tools. The simulations aimed to strengthen cadres’ understanding of the stages and functions of each table in Posyandu service delivery.

Evaluation results showed that 90% of participants demonstrated a good understanding of the concepts and functions of the five Posyandu tables. This indicates that practical simulations helped improve cadres’ understanding of service procedures and how Posyandu services are delivered.

Strengthening cadres’ capacities is expected to improve coordination among families, cadres, Posyandu, midwives, community health centers, and village governments as part of the community-level primary health care ecosystem. With improved knowledge and skills, cadres are expected to carry out their roles with greater confidence and deliver Posyandu services in line with their functions and community needs.

Indun, a cadre from Pante Kera Village, shared that the training addressed cadres’ need to understand life-course-based Posyandu services, from pregnancy through old age. This understanding has helped cadres feel more confident in providing appropriate, inclusive, and continuous services that meet the needs of different age groups.

Building More Inclusive Posyandu Services

The participation of 24 people from different sectors was an important step toward building a shared understanding of how to strengthen community-level health services. Collaboration among cadres, health workers, village governments, traditional village healers, and YSI is expected to strengthen service networks and support the sustainability of Posyandu in both villages.

Under the Inclusive Family Posyandu approach, priority groups include people with specific health needs, those facing greater vulnerability, or those experiencing barriers to accessing adequate health services. These groups include pregnant women, infants and toddlers, older people, and persons with disabilities.

Prioritizing these groups does not mean excluding other community members. Instead, it ensures that attention and support are directed according to each group’s needs. Through this approach, Posyandu is expected to identify needs, monitor health conditions, provide education and basic services, and refer individuals who require further medical attention.

In practice, the Inclusive Family Posyandu approach has reached 250 participants from these priority groups.

For YSI, Inclusive Family Posyandu is a way to bring the principles of Primary Health Care Integration into the daily lives of families and communities. The approach aims to ensure that health services do not end when people visit Posyandu. It also encourages communities to recognize health needs, reach vulnerable groups, provide education, monitor health conditions, and connect families with the services they require.

Using Local Resources Safely

The training also introduced the use of medicinal plants available in the local environment as part of health promotion and disease prevention efforts based on local resources.

Participants learned how to identify medicinal plants, select suitable materials, maintain hygiene, prepare plants using simple methods, and understand proper storage and limitations of use. The plants introduced during the training included ginger, lemongrass, and turmeric.

The medicinal plant training focused not only on preparing herbal remedies but also on exploring and documenting health knowledge that already exists within the community. Participants identified medicinal plants growing in gardens, home yards, and surrounding areas, then shared their experiences of how these plants have traditionally been used.

Through facilitated discussions, participants jointly identified plant species, their potential uses for specific complaints or illnesses, preparation methods, and ways of using them. This process demonstrated that local knowledge can serve as an important learning resource for developing community-based health initiatives.

For YSI, this process goes beyond transferring information about medicinal plants. Community experiences and knowledge can be consolidated into shared learning, reflected upon, documented, and developed into educational materials or more contextually relevant program innovations. In this way, the training forms part of a cycle of experience, reflection, learning, documentation, and improved practice, while reinforcing the community’s role as an active participant and owner of its knowledge in efforts to improve health.

Safety was a key consideration in the use of medicinal plants to ensure that they are used appropriately and do not replace professional health care when needed. Participants learned about the importance of maintaining clean ingredients and preparation processes, using plants appropriately, applying reasonable quantities or doses, and understanding the limitations of their use.

Participants were also informed that medicinal plants are not entirely risk-free. Misidentifying a plant, using the wrong part, taking excessive amounts, or preparing plants under unhygienic conditions may cause unwanted effects, such as digestive problems, allergic reactions, poisoning, or microbial contamination. Some plants and herbal preparations may also interact with medications, potentially reducing their effectiveness or causing side effects.

Participants were therefore encouraged to recognize health conditions that cannot be managed with medicinal plants alone, including severe, persistent, or worsening symptoms, as well as conditions requiring medical diagnosis and treatment. In such cases, community members should promptly consult health professionals. Medicinal plants are thus positioned as part of community-based health practices grounded in local knowledge, while maintaining safety, caution, and appropriate referral to health services when necessary.

From Training to Practice

The training marked an initial step toward ensuring that the knowledge and skills gained could be applied in Posyandu activities in Batu Sumbang and Pante Kera. Through follow-up plans, cadres will apply their learning by practicing the five Posyandu service functions during health service sessions scheduled for the beginning of each month in both villages.

The follow-up activities will involve 11 cadres, two traditional village midwives, two health workers, and two village government representatives. The activities will focus on Posyandu health services, education on Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) in schools and villages, and reproductive health.

Amid ongoing post-disaster recovery, strengthening community capacity is an important part of building health resilience. By strengthening cadres, reinforcing networks with community health centers and village governments, and developing family-oriented and inclusive Posyandu services, YSI has contributed to advancing primary health care that is more accessible, integrated, and responsive to community needs.