FK-KMK UGM. Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM) launched its 2024 Summer Course program with the theme “Empowering Communities for Climate Health Resilience.” Running from October 28 to November 8, the course is aimed at fostering community resilience in the face of climate change. This year, the program welcomes participants from diverse countries, including Indonesia, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Malta, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Singapore, and India, as part of UGM’s commitment to building climate-ready communities.

The program opened with a welcome speech by Program Chair Prof. dr. Gunadi, Ph.D., Sp.BA., Subsp.D.A(K), who praised the enthusiasm of participants and highlighted the importance of climate health resilience, particularly in the post-pandemic world. “We have built a team to empower communities in climate health resilience. Climate change has become a pressing topic for the WHO, and community resilience post-pandemic is among the essential areas we aim to address,” he noted.

Prof. Gunadi further explained that this year’s fieldwork will be based in Kulon Progo, after two years of focusing on Sleman. “Kulon Progo offers more varied challenges, making it an ideal field study location for fostering community resilience,” he explained.

The program is supported by various faculties at UGM, including the Faculty of Forestry, Geography, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and FK-KMK as the initiator. “Over the last decade, Indonesia has demonstrated a strong commitment to climate mitigation, especially in the forestry sector, dealing with issues like deforestation, emissions, and sustainable forest management,” stated Ir. Dwiko Budi Permadi, S.Hut., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU., Vice Dean of Research, Community Service, and Collaboration at UGM’s Faculty of Forestry.

Drg. Rosa Amalia, M.Kes., Ph.D., Vice Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at UGM’s Faculty of Dentistry, emphasized UGM’s proactive approach to health resilience. “This program reflects UGM’s commitment to proactive health measures as part of carbon mitigation in response to environmental change,” she said.

Dr. Rer. Nat. Apt. Nanang Fakhrudin, M.Si., Vice Dean of Research, Community Service, and Alumni at the Faculty of Pharmacy, added that the cross-disciplinary collaboration enables valuable knowledge exchange. “Involving five faculties, this program strengthens FK-KMK’s collaborative initiatives each year,” he noted.

In his remarks, FK-KMK Dean Prof. dr. Yodi Mahendradhata, M.Sc., Ph.D., FRSPH, outlined three core elements essential for addressing climate change: interprofessional collaboration, climate health resilience, and community empowerment. “We value the contributions from collaborating faculties and hope participants can embody UGM’s spirit of ‘locally rooted, globally respected,’” he stated.

Participants will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge directly within the community through service activities in selected community health centers (puskesmas) across Kulon Progo. With involvement from diverse fields and nations, this program aims to provide a fresh perspective on building sustainable climate health resilience within communities.

The program also includes experts from various sectors, including Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, and academics from Singapore, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and the United States, as well as Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry. These multidisciplinary perspectives will help participants gain insights into relevant strategies to strengthen community resilience against global climate challenges.

Through this initiative, FK-KMK UGM reaffirms its dedication to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). (Isroq Adi Subakti/Reporter).