Bontang City Government Equips 71 Healthcare Workers with Persuasive Communication Techniques

Efforts to protect future generations from the threat of stunting strictly require the involvement of the wider community through better lifestyle behaviour changes. Such behavioural changes can be achieved if citizens receive health education that is easy to understand, polite, and delivered with empathy by medical personnel in the field.

To ensure the public’s right to receive communicative health information, the Bontang City Health Office (Dinkes) organised an Orientation for Strengthening Communicators using Interpersonal Communication (KAP) methods. This public service improvement activity focused on 71 healthcare workers over two days at the Hotel Equator Bontang, commencing on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.

“This training must produce a real impact so that the stunting reduction target in Bontang City can be achieved,” said the Mayor of Bontang, Neni Moerniaeni, during the opening ceremony.

Effective communication, Neni stated, is the primary key. She expressed hope that healthcare workers would be able to act as educational agents of change within the community. According to the Mayor, collaboration with the public and the enhancement of healthcare workers’ competence represent a crucial investment in regional human resource development.

The Head of the Bontang City Health Office, Toetoek Pribadi Ekowati, stated that this orientation aims to equip participants with interpersonal communication skills to support public health education. This step, she continued, is a concrete implementation of the Second Pillar of the National Strategy for Accelerating Stunting Reduction, in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021.

To ensure the material is targeted effectively, healthcare workers were deployed for field practice to engage with citizens at integrated healthcare centres (posyandu), prenatal classes, toddler family development groups (BKB), and educational institutions. The persuasively communicated material covers the importance of implementing Clean and Healthy Living Behaviours (PHBS) and improving environmental sanitation around residents’ homes.

Also present at the event were representatives from Bapperida, DP3AKB, officials from the Health Office, and leaders of Community Health Centres (Puskesmas) from across Bontang City.