FMCH Indonesia (Yayasan Balita Sehat Indonesia) has launched Indonesia’s first pilot of the BUNDA Program (Bersama Mendukung Ibu Sehat dan Bahagia), a community-based psychosocial support model designed to strengthen the mental health of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach.
As part of the implementation, in January 2026 FMCH Indonesia held training for 100 midwives and community health volunteers, held from 12–16 January in Southwest Sumba District and 19–23 January in South Central Timor District.
Training for midwives and community-health worker in Southwest Sumba, Januari 2026
The BUNDA Program was developed to respond to the long-overlooked need for maternal mental health support, particularly in rural and vulnerable to disasters area. It adopts a practical and empathetic approach that can be implemented by midwives and community health volunteers at the community level.
A study conducted by FMCH Indonesia between January and March 2025 in 17 villages across Southwest Sumba and South Central Timor found that 37% of mothers showed symptoms of trauma (PTSD), 35% experienced anxiety or depression, 22% showed signs of psychotic disorders, and only 6% of breastfeeding mothers were classified as having stable mental health conditions.
Home visit for a pregnant mother by a midwife in Wee Wella Village, Southwest Sumba Regency.
About BUNDA
The BUNDA Program is designed to strengthen the role of midwives and community health volunteers as frontline health service providers. Through training based on the Thinking Healthy module, participants are equipped with empathetic communication skills and basic counseling techniques, enabling them to provide practical and culturally appropriate mental health support for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
In addition to training, the BUNDA Program includes psychosocial support for mothers through simple counseling, delivered either at Posyandu services or through home visits when needed. This support is expected to help mothers feel more supported and to strengthen mother–child relationships.
The BUNDA Program was first piloted in 2025 in Southwest Sumba District. In 2026, the program is being developed and implemented in two districts, Southwest Sumba and South Central Timor, East Nusa Tenggara with support from The Van Leer Foundation, Challenge Works, The LEGO Foundation, Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal, and FEMSA Foundation.
