The Ministry of Health obtains grants from the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury through the Specific International Program (SIP) funding mechanism. This project consists of 4 activity outputs including: (1) availability of basic data on public health conditions and practice of handling cases due to mercury exposure, (2) availability of training modules for health workers in controlling health effects due to mercury exposure, (3) availability of referral mechanism modules health services and laboratories for handling cases due to mercury exposure, and (4) organizing training for health workers in handling cases due to mercury exposure.
One of the outputs from the SIP Minamata Convention grant funding activity is Training to West Lombok of health personnel in the context of “Improving Health Risk Control from Mercury Exposure in Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) and Surrounding Areas by Developing a Participatory Approach”. This training aims to increase the capacity of health workers in carrying out a participatory approach in order to increase awareness towards mercury-free ASGM activities and increase the capacity of health workers in carrying out screening/early detection of symptoms of health problems due to mercury exposure. This training was held in 3 locations, namely Lebak Regency, Banyumas Regency, and West Lombok Regency face to face.
The general objective of this training is the implementation of health worker training activities.
The specific objectives of this training are as follows:
- Officers understand basic knowledge about participatory approaches towards mercury-free ASGM for communities in ASGM areas
- Officers understand screening/early detection of health problems due to mercury exposure
- Officers understand environmental sampling and biomarker samples
- Officers understand the risk analysis of mercury exposure
