KUCHING: The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) organised a workshop called “Maternity Care Training Capacity MamaCare 2017’ at M Hotel, Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim here from 9 to 12 Sept.
The target groups for the workshop were single mothers and senior citizens aged between 20 and 69 years where they were given training on maternity care such as traditional and modern massages.
The MamaCare programme was an initiative of 1Malaysia Women Initiative and Self Empowerment (1MWISE) under the National Blue Ocean Strategy inspired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak in 2012.
Under the initiative, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) is tasked with empowering women’s economy through capacity building programmes.
KPWKM through LPPKN implemented the MamaCare programme with the ultimate goal of training single mothers and elderly women among low-income households in maternal care through the MamaCare Capacity Development Programme.
On the last day of the workshop, 20 MamaCare practitioners successfully completed their four-day and three-night training.
The success of the 20 new practitioners made Sarawak to have a total of 73 trained MamaCare practitioners.
New Sarawak Tribune reporter has the opportunity to interview two of the participants.
For Siti Nurashikin Ahmad, 27, her desire to learn maternal care whether in terms of food or massage techniques made her to register as a participant of the workshop.
Siti who has completed the second level of maternity training will continue to her training until Level 5.
She will be working at MamaCare Semerah Padi and Kampung Kudei Baru branch.
She said that the programme is very good and should be continued in the future so that traditional Malay massage can be maintained.
Meanwhile, 42-year-old Zuhaini Zen told reporters that she knew about the programme from Sarawak Single Mothers Association.
“I joined this MamaCare programme because of my passion and I also want to learn the correct techniques of maternal care massage,” said Zuhaini who will serve at MamaCare Satok Branch.
She explained that postnatal care was important especially for mothers who have just given birth to their first child.
Commenting on her plans she said she would offer maternal massage service by opening a booth or going to the customer’s home.
She added that she also promoted her massage service through social networking site like Facebook and also through WhatsApp.
The closing ceremony was officiated at by Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat who was accompanied by State Director of LPPKN, Rohaini Ahmad.
