Community based nutrition and public health intervention: Lesson Learnt from The Field

Summit Institute for Development with students in Faculty of Medicine Universitas Mataram

Mataram, May 6th, 2025 – The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Mataram held a special guest lecture featuring Summit Institute for Development (SID), Rachmi Mufida and Nurmalita Hartiyana Kusuma Wardani. The event was attended by more than 250 second-semester medical students, who enthusiastically listened to the presentation on the role of nutrition in public health and the various innovations developed by SID.

During the session, the speakers discussed the factors influencing community nutritional status, including geographic conditions and access to local food sources. SID also shared its long-standing experience in advancing nutritional improvements, particularly through large scale multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) SUMMIT study for pregnant women. This particular double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in 2000-2004, involving 42,000 pregnant women in Lombok, with the result showing MMS supplementation has association with reduction of infant mortality by 18% compared with iron-folic acid supplementation and improvement of pregnancy outcome (1). This study has been referred to by global and national recommendations (2-3). A long 25-year journey of continuously advocating for the provision of micronutrients for pregnant women and improving the quality of antenatal care (ANC), which to this day continues to be enhanced through the use of information technology for research, program development, and human resource improvement. 

The utilization of information technology for action, SID has become a key partner of the Indonesian Ministry of Health in accelerating the integration of primary healthcare services through digitalization and the development of local area monitoring dashboards, which has positioned Garut as a national pilot district. Moreover, Innovations such as interoperable health information systems, digitized community-based services, and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) were showcased with specific use cases for improving nutrition and ANC for pregnant women, and other services in primary health centers. With this modern approach that accelerates the achievement of health development goals, it is also hoped that community participation and support from all stakeholders, including universities and government organizations, can be fostered collaboratively.

This guest lecture served as a meaningful learning opportunity for medical students, broadening their understanding of community-based public health practices while also opening space for critical discussions. It is hoped that these future doctors will not only become competent medical professionals but also leaders of change, capable of driving innovation in preventive and promotive health efforts in the years to come.

1. Effect of maternal multiple micronutrient supplementation on fetal loss and infant death in Indonesia: a double-blind cluster-randomised trial. The Lancet, Volume 371, Issue 9608, 215 - 227. (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(08)60133-6/abstract)

2. WHO antenatal care recommendations for a positive pregnancy experience. Nutritional interventions update: Multiple micronutrient supplements during pregnancy. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240007789) 

3. Sosialisasi Pemberian Suplemen Multivitamin dan Mineral untuk Ibu Hamil Kementrian Republik Indonesia 2024. (https://link.kemkes.go.id/multi/Links/lists/SosImplemenMMS2024)