Universitas Hasanuddin conducted a ceremony marking the dispatch of its student who would take part in Students’ Community Service in Health Profession (known in Indonesian as Kuliah Kerja Nyata Profesi Kesehatan or KKN-PK), batch 58 on Tuesday, 18th June 2019. The event which took place at Auditorium Prof. A. Amiruddin was attended by the Governor of South Sulawesi, Prof. Nurdin Abdullah, M.Agr, the Rector of Unhas Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, MA; Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation, Prof. dr. Muh. Nasrum Massi, Ph.D.; the head of Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM), Prof. Dr. Alimuddin Unde, M.Sc; and also the deans from all faculties.
There were also the Head of South Sulawesi Health office, representatives from Tana Toraja, Takalar, and Soppeng (which are the destination region of the program), the Head of P2KKN Unhas, as well as member of Unhas taskforces and the supervisors of the program.
In his report, the head committee of KKN-PK Unhas, dr. Irwi Aras, M.Epid, M.Med.Ed conveyed that the number of participants of this batch reached 649 students from 5 faculties in Health field, which are Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Faculty of Nursing. There were also 30 supervisors from each faculty in this event.
This year KKN-PK carried the theme "Community-based tuberculosis (TB) control with an interprofessional education (IPE) approach". Irwin Aras explained that the reason for choosing this theme was to see the high prevalence of TB in Indonesia, especially in South Sulawesi.
"Indonesia is a country with the number 2 prevalence of TB in the world. South Sulawesi is a province with a high TB case, but has a low incidence of cases. Also there is still a high mortality rate due to TB. Moreover, the cases of TB resistant to drugs or multi-drug resistant TB are also higher," said Irwin.
Doctor Irwin, who is an expert in Epidemiology, also conveyed that TB problems require an inter-professional approach, across health professions. Unhas has many scientific resources that can be used to control these health problems, so it can’t be handled by just one single field of science.
The participants of KKN-PK this year will be dispatched to almost 60 villages and sub-districts in 3 regencies, which are Toraja regency (18 villages), Takalar regency (20 villages) and Soppeng regency (20 villages and sub-districts)
"Our KKN students will be accepted at their respective locations on June 19th, and they will stay on the location for 4 weeks or 1 full month," Said Irwin.
On that occasion, the Rector of Unhas Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, MA expressed her appreciation for the successful implementation of KKN-PK this year. This is a manifestation of Unhas' contribution to society as part of social responsibility.
"I appreciate the efforts of the committee of KKN-PK which are coordinated directly by the LPPM and P2KKN. This theme is truly specific and fits the actual needs of our society and region. I hope students can implement the program well while on the location, and still keep the character as a student. Take care of your good name, keep the good name of the campus," said Prof. Dwia.
Prof. Dwia also explained this activity would continue to be developed and become a sustained program. Today, it is no longer for campus to become an ivory tower. Academicians, lecturers and students should mingle with society and become part of the solution.
"Unhas cannot carry out this mission alone. Therefore, we still expect support and assistance from related stakeholders, also from the central, provincial and municipal governments, as well as from the private sector. For us, this activity also has the elements of research and community service that can be scaled up to an international level. So, it can contribute to the achievement of Unhas as a World Class University," said Prof. Dwia.
The Governor of South Sulawesi, Prof. Nurdin Abdullah, M.Agr in his remarks expressed his happiness on the implementation of this activity. He considered this program an answer to what people need. Moreover, the theme picked was very relevant to health problems in South Sulawesi.
"I ask each government of the regency to support and facilitate our students who participate in the program in their region. Give them any possible assistance needed, either on transportation, accommodations, or food while they are on the location," said Nurdin Abdullah.
The Rector of Unhas then officially dispatched KKN-PK students of Batch 58. It was marked by the giving of attributes of KKN-PK vest to participants' representatives. The event was followed by the launching ceremony of a community-based TB control program with the IPE approach by the Governor of South Sulawesi which was officially marked by the sounding of the gong. At the end of the event, the 58th batch of KKN-PK students made a joint pledge together. (*)
Prepared by Ishaq Rahman
Translated bu Nurul Imansari; Edited by Karmila Mokoginta
