Cadre Unurlaili, offers health and nutrition counselling to mothers of young children at a Posyandu in Lipa Cut village.

In Desa Lipa Cut nearly 100 mothers and young children faithfully visit the neighborhood posyandu (village health post) every month. Here they participate in a five step cycle — signing in, weighing their children, reporting on their children's weight, receiving counseling on nutrition and care for their young children and having their children immunized. Once completed, mothers and children gather in a circle to listen to a short seminar on topics ranging from exclusive breastfeeding to dengue fever.

With a captive audience, this is an opportune time for midwives to relay important health messages. Without the commitment of volunteer cadres and midwives, these posyandu activities would not be possible.

Posyandu cadre, Ibu Unurlaili expressed how pleased she is at the significant increase in the number of cadres. "I've been a cadre for 12 years now. Before there were only two cadres at the posyandus; now there are five cadres at each of the posyandus and we've all been trained by Save the Children."

Posyandu attendee, Mulyana, states that the cadres are one of the major reasons why she faithfully comes every month. "I like coming here to get immunizations for my daughter, but I especially like coming here because the cadres are so friendly."

Posyandu cadres are proud of their success — not only are there now more dedicated cadres at the posyandus, but the attendance of dedicated mothers is increasing,too.