America Suddenly Praises Banten, What's Going On?

The United States Embassy in Jakarta has suddenly praised Banten Province. This is apparently related to the MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) programme, which is claimed to have improved maternal and newborn health systems in various areas there.

The Embassy states that Banten Province has successfully reduced maternal mortality rates in health facilities by 55%, from 214.4 to 95.7 per 100,000 births, in 26 supported facilities between 2024 and 2025. The neonatal mortality rate in health facilities has also decreased from 16.2 to 15.5 per 1,000 live births, while more than 300 trained community health cadres have conducted over 6,000 home visits, reaching more than 16,000 individuals.

“The United States is proud to partner with Indonesia to improve services that support maternal and newborn health in Banten Province,” said Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the US Embassy Peter M. Haymond, in a statement received by CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday (13/5/2026).

“This effort has been successful. Maternal mortality rates have declined by 55% in US government-supported MOMENTUM facilities,” he added.

“This success demonstrates what can be achieved through an evidence-based approach and strong local ownership. US health assistance is designed to foster self-reliance in recipient countries. We achieve this goal together by transitioning these vital life-saving interventions to local leadership in Banten, while continuing to save lives in the community in the years ahead,” he explained further.

It should be noted that in Banten Province, this programme operates in five regencies and cities. The MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) is a programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, as well as Banten Provincial Health Authority, since 2021.

“Banten Province has shown rapid progress in scaling up these interventions, with 134 health facilities now participating in quality improvement collaborations across various regencies,” he added.

“Building on the foundation of 46 locations supported by the US government, district health offices have independently expanded the programme to 88 additional facilities by leveraging Indonesia’s government systems and resources, nearly doubling the programme’s reach,” the embassy stated again.

“Banten is now in a very strategic position to sustain and further expand these interventions under full local government leadership.”