Singaraja – COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease and continues to damage world health, social life, tourism, education, and the economy. There needs to be synergy between all parties in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher education institutions in order to maintain the quality of education in Indonesia. In the midst of PPKM level, 4 implemented by the Java and Bali Governments and policies work From Home  (WFH) does not dampen the enthusiasm of the Ganesha University of Education academic community in taking a role in making the nation’s life smarter. One of the things done by the D3 Midwifery Study Program was holding the first national webinar with the theme “Improving Midwife Services in Early Detection of Complications during Pregnancy, Maternity and Postpartum in the Era of Adaptation to New Life and Development of Midwife Career Paths.” This theme was also emphasized by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine as very appropriate considering that we are facing a new era where all conditions in the life sector are required to make very significant changes both in medical care, hospital services, and first-level health services, so anticipation through increasing competence through this webinar is very important. very well. In his speech, he was also known as the Dean of the Faculty of MedicineProf Ahmad We also express our gratitude to all parties who have supported and attended this virtual activity in order to increase the abilities and professionalism of midwives.

Even though it was the first time conducting a national seminar and in a pandemic situation, the enthusiasm of the participants was very high, as evidenced by the webinar participants for the D3 Midwifery Study Program being attended by hundreds of participants from both educational institutions and practitioners. From the committee’s records, a summary of the top 10 institutions from which participants in the Undiksha Midwifery national seminar came, namely universities and private health centers with 270 participants, district hospitals and private hospitals in the Bali region with 220 participants, Ministry of Health Polytechnics in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi with 188 participants, namely from Undiksha. 180 participants, Health Clinic and Independent Midwife Practice (PMB) in Bali with 150 participants, Sanglah General Hospital with 70 participants, Denpasar Ministry of Health Polytechnic with 65 participants, State University with 60 participants, Bali Provincial Health Service with 33 participants and Banda Sakti Health Center, Lhoseumawe City, Aceh with 27 participants participant.

The high enthusiasm of the participants for taking part in this webinar cannot be separated from the interesting theme raised by the committee, the committee’s publications via social media Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp group, and Telegram, and also the big names of the presenters who were collaborated with by the committee in carrying out this activity. One of them is Dr. Muhammad Alamsyah Asis Sp.OG (K)-KFM KIC M.Kes from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, FK UNPAD, and also actively practicing at RSHS Bandung. In medical circles, obstetrics, gynecology, and the midwife profession in Bandung, his name is certainly familiar, because he is active as a speaker in national webinars and has produced many books, namely almost 15 books in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. The seminar was guided directly by the Coordinator of the D3 Midwifery Study Program, FK Undiksha, namely Luh Nik Armini S.ST., M.Keb who carries out activities with enthusiasm. In his presentation of the material, Doctor Alamsyah, as he is nicknamed, said that the theme raised by the committee was very up-to-date according to the current pandemic conditions where midwives are at the forefront of services.”primary care” can have the competence to detect early pregnancy complications in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of pregnant women during the pandemic. Continuing in his explanation, we must first understand the statistical conditions that occur in pregnant women at this time, so that we can prepare appropriate interventions. So far, from the data presented by Doctor Alamsyah, Ante Natal Care (ANC) services in Indonesia are mostly carried out by midwives, namely almost 45.3%, so according to him, midwives’ colleagues have a quite important role. In Indonesia itself, there has been a shift in trend where the biggest contributor to death in pregnant women, which was initially bleeding, is now hypertension in pregnancy or what is called Pre-Eclampsia (PE). He emphasized that the provinces of West Java, Central Java, and East Java are the provinces that contribute to the highest maternal mortality rate in Indonesia. Most deaths of pregnant women occur in hospitals, which in fact have entered the advanced phase of maternal emergency cases. It is his hope that early detection of these complications can be provided in “primary care” namely the activities of fellow midwives in promotion and prevention, early detection, quality and quantity of ANC using the 10T principle, and also childbirth using a partograph. Seeing the current pandemic conditions, Doctor Alamsyah explained that pregnant women can now be given the COVID-19 vaccination with a gestational age range of 12-33 weeks, in connection with the critical period of organogenesis in the 1st trimester and for protection at the end of the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. This is related to the overall risk of Covid 19 infection. According to Doctor Alamsyah, the vertical line from pregnant mother to baby is still controversial because several journal articles are still being developed to study the relationship. Finally, from his presentation, pregnant women who are confirmed to have COVID-19 are advised to consult a doctor regarding the consumption of antiviral drugs that are teratogenic, and he said that pregnant or breastfeeding mothers can provide breast milk with strict health protocols.

Continuing with the first speaker, the second speaker present at this national seminar was the Chair of the Bali Province Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI), namely LuhPutu Sukarini S., ST., MM., M. Kes with a characteristic graceful and enthusiastic demeanor. Continuing the competency of midwives in the early detection of complications during pregnancy which was conveyed by Doctor Alamsyah, Mrs. Luh Sukarani gave an invitation and encouragement to all Midwives in Indonesia and Bali Province in particular to remain enthusiastic about improving their own competence by attending training, seminars or increasing their level of higher education in order to achieve better competence. In his presentation, the chairman of PD IBI Bali explained that midwife competency is the basis for providing comprehensive, effective, efficient, and safe midwifery services based on evidence-based on clients, in the form of promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative efforts carried out independently in collaboration and referral. Mrs. Luh Sukarini also explained the scope of midwifery care with intermediate expert competency and Midwife competency, namely that intermediate expert midwives have competency in Newborns, Infants, Toddlers and Preschool Children, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum Period, Family Planning Services and Basic Midwifery Clinical Practice Skills. The Midwife competency area includes Reproductive Health, Pre-pregnancy Period, Post-Miscarriage Period, Birth Period, Climaterium Period, and Reproductive Health and Sexuality Services. In addition, he also reminded that in accordance with Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Regulation Number 36 of 2019 the career path for the Midwife profession is divided into skilled midwives and expert midwives with the lowest rank being executive midwife (IIC) to main midwife (IVe). “Together, the organization of the Midwife profession will encourage and support all Midwives in Indonesia to be able to reach this stage, so there is no need to be discouraged, anxious, and restless,” he said at the end of the material presented. (TFK)