The innovation of the SNL2 program is to change behaviors and determine a standardized process, as well as its application, which is approached through three methods.
The first method is raising the capacity of midwives in providing Essential Neonatal Health (ENH) through Training of Trainers (TOT), which transfers knowledge from local workers who have been chosen based on a competence test provided by Save the Children, and implemented by the Ministry of Health and the Community Health Center. This functions on a Learning Organization system in the efforts to improve the competency of midwives in urban and rural areas. After being trained by the health workers, the midwives are able to perform quality service to the community. SNL2 complements the existing ENH program by the Ministry of Health, which is part of the larger Mother and Child Health (MCH) program.
The second method is providing quality data and information so that this can be used for planning, or even financing program. This process can be started with perfecting the Recording and Reporting Survey for Mother and Child Health in Local Areas Monitoring system, which accounts for the scope of the report when the midwives perform their services for newborns during the Neonatal Visit (NV).
The third method is approaching the local village and district community leaders to actively involve them in supporting the implementation of the SNL2 program. This approach is executed by advocating the regent of the area until they have hopefully engaged the regent in helping the Ministry of Health. This support could positively impact the Human Development Index (HDI) and decrease the infant mortality rate through empowerment of the community to make efforts to change behavior.
With the second highest infant mortality rate as well as a low HDI, Garut district in West Java was chosen as a province to implement the SNL program. The program activities are running in 10 sub-districts, stemming from the 12 Community Health Centers. These sub-districts were determined by the criteria of far, medium and close distance to a Community Health Center, and were chosen using a randomized system.
The SNL2 and ENH programs have been put into operation by the districts and the results are an increase in the availability and access to quality health services, improvement of the community’s knowledge, attitude and behavior, technical support implementation, as well as assistance in the process of planning and advocating to the stakeholders at the Community Health Center level (which is clearly the responsibility of each individual health worker).
New innovations have emerged in dealing with issues that have arisen, such as partnerships between the midwives and the traditional healers, and a good system for reporting arrangements and use of the Integrated Management of Young Infants (IMYI) system.
SNL2 followed the mentor program, SNL, by Save the Children and was put into progress in Garut by the Health Department as a means to provide a model for other areas. The Ministry of Health in Garut itself took the initiative to replicate this program at the sub-district levels.
