Exactly one year into the leadership of Semarang Mayor Agustina\nWilujeng and Deputy Mayor Iswar Aminuddin, the health sector in the\nCentral Java capital has recorded significant progress. Healthcare\naccess has widened, public protection has improved, poverty figures have\ndeclined, and services for expectant mothers have become increasingly\nassured.<\/p>\n
These healthcare services have been strengthened through the\n\u2018Semarang Sehat\u2019 (Healthy Semarang) programme, which positions health as\na fundamental right of all residents. The programme targets not only\ntreatment but also disease prevention, nutritional fulfilment, and\nguaranteed healthcare access for all segments of society.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth is every citizen\u2019s fundamental right. We want to build a\nSemarang that is strong from within, and that begins with a healthy\nbody, a strong spirit, an improving economy, and a sense of security\nwhen seeking medical treatment. Semarang Sehat is the embodiment of a\ngovernment that is present to protect its people,\u201d said Agustina in a\nwritten statement on Tuesday (24 February 2026).<\/p>\n
These health development efforts have run in tandem with poverty\nalleviation initiatives. Over the past five years, the poverty rate in\nSemarang has declined consistently, from 11.84 per cent in 2020 to 9.36\nper cent in 2025.<\/p>\n
The year-on-year decline progressed from 11.25 per cent in 2021, to\n10.98 per cent in 2022, 10.77 per cent in 2023, 10.19 per cent in 2024,\nand finally 9.36 per cent in 2025. This reduction has broadened\nresidents\u2019 access to healthcare, particularly for groups previously\nconstrained by costs.<\/p>\n
According to Agustina, improvements in health and the economy are\ninseparable. Healthy residents have greater opportunities to work\nproductively, whilst economic improvement makes healthcare access\nincreasingly available.<\/p>\n
\u201cPoverty and health are closely linked. Poor residents are vulnerable\nto illness, and sick residents can fall into poverty. That is why we\nintervene on both fronts simultaneously. Thankfully, the figures\ncontinue to show improvement,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
One of the other key achievements has been the expansion of Universal\nHealth Coverage (UHC) enrolment. The number of UHC participants in\nSemarang increased from 98,261 in 2024 to 228,859 in 2025, an addition\nof 130,598 participants within a single year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI often hear stories from residents who used to be afraid of going\nto community health centres or hospitals because they worried about\ncosts. Now, with expanded UHC, they can come with peace of mind. That is\na source of great happiness for us,\u201d Agustina added.<\/p>\n
The Semarang city government has also strengthened its stunting\nresponse through a number of integrated programmes targeting\nadolescents, expectant mothers, and toddlers. These efforts are aimed at\nensuring optimal child development from an early age.<\/p>\n
The Daycare Rumah Pelita programme targets 160 toddlers, whilst the\nWeek Care programme reaches 105 individuals comprising 30 adolescents,\n30 expectant mothers, and 45 toddlers across three community health\ncentres. Additionally, the distribution of iron supplement tablets has\nbeen intensified to prevent anaemia, targeting 78,612 adolescent girls,\n18,293 expectant mothers, and 261 brides-to-be. The Dapur Sehat Atasi\nStunting (DASHAT) programme, which provides nutritional guidance and\nhealthy eating education, also targets 78,612 adolescents and 18,293\nexpectant mothers.<\/p>\n
Beyond this, maternal and child health services have also been\nexpanded. Healthcare services for expectant mothers reached 17,636\nindividuals, for mothers giving birth 17,561, for newborns 27,091, and\nfor toddlers 77,484. At the posyandu (integrated health post) level,\ntoddler monitoring is conducted at 1,643 posyandu spread across 177\nsub-districts with the support of 15,741 cadres.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful to the Posyandu cadres. They are health heroes in\ntheir respective communities. Without them, these programmes would not\nreach mothers and children,\u201d said Agustina.<\/p>\n
In addition to services, throughout 2025 four community health\ncentres were built or rehabilitated: Puskesmas Tlogosari Kulon,\nKebokatan Phase 2, Pegandan Phase 2, and Genuk Phase 2. Three auxiliary\nhealth centres (Pustu) were also constructed and repaired, including\nPustu Ratu Ratih and Pustu Beringin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to ensure that no resident struggles to access healthcare\nbecause of distance. By building community health centres and auxiliary\ncentres at various locations, we are bringing services closer to the\npeople,\u201d Agustina affirmed.<\/p>\n
Not only focusing on physical health, the Semarang city government\nhas also strengthened mental and social health aspects through the Rumah\nInspirasi (House of Inspiration) programme. These facilities serve as\nspaces for residents to gather, learn, and receive social support.<\/p>\n
By 2025, seven Rumah Inspirasi had been built in the sub-districts of\nMijen, Tembalang, Semarang Barat, Semarang Tengah, Genuk, Gayamsari, and\nGunungpati. The city government has also established the SIDAKSOS\napplication system to facilitate data collection and service\ndelivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cRumah Inspirasi is not merely a building. It is a space of hope for\nresidents who need support. Here they can learn, gather, and find the\nmotivation to rise up,\u201d Agustina explained.<\/p>\n
Entering the second year of their administration, the Semarang city\ngovernment is targeting expanded health and social services. In the area\nof maternal and child health, the government will develop daycare\nfacilities at 16 locations and week care services at 40 community health\ncentres, as well as expand iron supplement tablet distribution for\nadolescent girls.<\/p>\n
Additionally, healthcare services for expectant mothers, mothers\ngiving birth, newborns, and toddlers will also be enhanced. The city\ngovernment will also distribute food assistance in the form of 10\nkilogrammes of rice per family per month for seven months to 805\nimpoverished families who have not yet received assistance.<\/p>\n
In terms of health infrastructure, the Semarang city government is\ntargeting the completion of Detailed Engineering Designs (DED) for Pustu\nPanjang, Pustu Podorejo, and Pustu Tanjungmas. Feasibility Studies and\nDEDs for Puskesmas Kedungmundu and Puskesmas Srondol are also being\nprepared, alongside the physical construction of Pustu Sendangmulyo and\nthe preparation of a DED for Pustu Poncol. Furthermore, Pustu Ratu Ratih\nwill be rehabilitated and the competencies of 265 health workers will be\nenhanced through training.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/one-year-in-office-semarang-mayor-agustina-and-deputy-iswar-strengthen-public-health-services-1771929443", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }