For information, all MOH hospitals are Baby Friendly Hospitals. Through this initiative, the hospital encourages either the husband or immediate family members to accompany the wife during the birth process. This is because the birth process requires strong emotional and physical support. This initiative also depends on the policy in each hospital taking into account aspects of safety, patient privacy as well as the current situation in the delivery room.
During the increase in COVID-19 infections, hospitals sought to reduce congestion at MOH health premises. One of the steps taken was to not allow the husband to enter the delivery room. The main purpose is to curb the spread of COVID-19 infection, especially among high-risk groups such as pregnant women and children.
Following the country's pandemic situation which began to show positive signs and increasing vaccination rates, please be informed, effective October 4, 2021, MOH has allowed husbands or immediate family members to accompany pregnant women during childbirth by complying with the set criteria;
1. Husband or immediate family member has received a complete dose of COVID-19 vaccine namely;
o 14 days after the second dose of two (2) dose type vaccines such as Pfizer, Sinovac, and Astra Zeneca; or
o 28 days after receiving a one (1) dose type vaccine such as CanSino and Johnson & Johnson.
2. Immediate family members must undergo a COVID-19 detection test (RT-PCR or RTK-Ag) at any health facility or private laboratory within 72 hours and test results must be brought along before accompanying the pregnant mother to the Maternity Ward. Husbands or immediate family members should also limit their movement after undergoing RT-PCR or RTK-Ag testing; OR
3. Immediate family members can purchase the COVID-19 Self-Test Kit which has been approved by the Medical Device Authority (MDA) and take it to the hospital to undergo the COVID-19 self-detection test at the screening site provided at the hospital with monitoring and verification by members. health on duty.
In addition, the husbands and immediate family members who accompany these pregnant women are also reminded to always practice compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) while accompanying these pregnant women. This is because they are a high -risk group that needs to be constantly protected. MOH hopes that the community, especially pregnant women as well as husbands and families can benefit from this facility that has been provided.
Letter of instruction from the Deputy Director General of Health (Medical) dated 28 September 2021 on the implementation of this initiative has been distributed to all State Health Directors for implementation from 4 October 2021. This is to provide space for the hospital to carry out the necessary preparations.