In early May, thousands of frontline primary health care workers across Indonesia tuned in to an online seminar on ‘Strengthening the roles of primary health care in prevention and control of COVID-19 in Indonesia’. The seminar was hosted by the Directorate of Primary Health Services, Ministry of Health, with collaborative support from the Indonesian Medical Collegium (KDI) and WHO.

The online seminar ran in two stages; two days of self-directed study from 5-7 May, followed by interactive webinars on 8, 9 and 11 May led by various experts including representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Infection Prevention and Control Working Group, KDI, and WHO. Around 540 healthcare workers – including doctors, paramedics, midwives, nutritionists and laboratory assistants –  participated in the webinar from community health centers (puskesmas) from all provinces across Indonesia. An additional 2 000 viewers accessed the training through YouTube live streaming.

The event was officially launched by Dr Bambang Wibowo, SpOG, Director General of Health Services, Indonesian Ministry of Health. Dr N. Paranietharan, WHO Representative to Indonesia, delivered the opening remarks.

“Primary health care is a cornerstone in achieving universal health coverage, in Indonesia and other countries,” Dr Paranie noted. “The puskesmas – and the system that works with the puskesmas as a network – is critical to ensure achieving and sustaining universal health coverage for everyone.”

Until recently, many online seminars and trainings on COVID-19 have been delivered with a focus towards hospitals. This seminar aimed to improve COVID-19 pandemic knowledge and skills of health care workers based in primary health settings, as these services are often where many mild-moderate patients of COVID-19 first seek care.

Caption: Primary health care workers were able to tune into the online seminar sessions to hear from resource persons from the Ministry of Health, the Infection Prevention and Control Working Group, Indonesian Medical Collegium and WHO. Credit: Indah Mubarrokah

The strength of this event was that participants had the opportunity to digitally send their questions to the seminar resource persons during the three days of pre-course self-directed study. These questions were then discussed and answered during the dedicated interactive webinars.

Prior to participating in the seminar, participants also undertook a preliminary test. A follow-up test was conducted after completing the seminar to measure the growth in knowledge and understanding of participants. Certificates were awarded to those who passed the test.

It is now expected that those who completed the training will be able to conduct effective prevention and control activities for COVID-19 as per the guidelines in primary health centers across the country. The Directorate of Primary Health Service and Provincial/District Health Office will monitor the implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) strategies – particularly the rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE), surveillance and epidemiological investigation, laboratory practices, and COVID-19 case management in primary health care settings.

In addition to providing the opening remarks, WHO also provided technical assistance to develop the training modules based off relevant guidance and policy, as well as contributing seminar session facilitation.

The online seminar was equipped with a video tutorial that can be downloaded via the MoH website (BPPSDM) and KDI’s YouTube. These resources will remain available as a post-seminar reference point for participants and for health workers who were unable to attend the seminar.

The recorded seminar may be viewed at the following link: www.youtube.com/channel/UC44EyRXneJDAUueplNxOY4Q
Technical questions regarding seminar content may be directed to seinocomm@who.int.

Funding for the event was generously provided by 



Main image caption: A training participant listens to the online seminar welcome remarks delivered by Dr N. Paranietharan, WHO Representative to Indonesia. Credit: WHO