Sunday, 12 February 2023, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) together with the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) and the University of Tokyo as co-organizers, held a mixed international conference in Hall A of FPH UI and through Zoom Meetings. The conference entitled “2023 AUA Academic Conference on Public Health Resilience in the COVID-19 Pandemic – Faculty of Public Health UI Science Festival” is the 4th Science Festival (Scifes) organized by FPH UI in conjunction with the 6th International Meeting of Public Health (IMOPH), 4th Young Scholar Symposium on Public Health (YSSOPH), 6th International Conference of Health Administration (ICHA), and 3rd International Conference of Occupational Health and Safety (ICOHS).
Held for 2 (two) days, this conference invited and was attended by various specialists in health sciences, social sciences, science, and culture with the hope of significantly supporting comprehensive efforts to accommodate delegates, share space, and encourage them to create networks study. There are 3 (three) series of events, namely pre-conferences for postgraduate students, poster presentations, and publication in Scopus or SINTA indexed journals. There were 237 presenters from 13 countries, consisting of 69 academic institutions including 9 universities which are members of AUA and 12 government organizations and NGOs facilitated by 51 chairs and co-chairs, as well as 699 online participants who conveyed their creative ideas in this series of events.
On the first day, the Deputy for Coordination of Health Quality Improvement and Population Development, drg. Agus Suprapto, M.Kes., to deliver a Keynote Speech entitled “Intersectoral Coordination Experience in Policy Implementation and Innovation to Improve Indonesia Public Health Quality”. Drg. Agus was present representing the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Development and Culture (Menko PMK), Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, M.A.P. In dealing with the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia has implemented 3 (three) strategies: the trident, gas and brake, and pentahelix strategy. The existence of a pandemic encourages people to work hand in hand to help one another, “The key is solidarity. The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture was directly appointed by the President to be the Action Coordinator for the Solidarity and Generosity Movement. Because COVID-19 is most affected at the grassroots level, there must be very good concrete action so that prevention and control measures related to COVID-19 can run effectively, ” said drg. Agus. The experience of COVID-19 prompted the Coordinating Ministry for PMK to issue Coordinating Ministerial Regulation number 7 of 2022 concerning g Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses and New Infectious Diseases. These regulations have been harmonized with various agencies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the future.
After the presentation of the keynote speech from drg. Agus, there was a Plenary Session moderated by Prof. dr. Fatma Lestari, M.Si, Ph.D. In this session, the Director of Postgraduate Program at YARSI University, Prof. Dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, Sp.P(K), MARS, DTM&H, DTCE, FISR to present material on the importance of a public health approach in dealing with global infectious diseases in secondary health facilities. According to Prof. Tjandra, we must be prepared for the possibilities of a future pandemic. The role of public health in this case is very crucial, especially in preventing its adverse effects. Also present were Prof. Akira Yasukouchi from Kyushu University, Japan to present material regarding the introduction of physio-anthropological evaluation in assessing human adaptation abilities to artificial environments. During a pandemic, humans are increasingly bound by technology, “This allows for new health risks that need to be considered by Occupational Safety and Health experts,” said Prof. Akira.
The first day’s activities continued lively with presentations, campus tours, and a Gala Dinner which was attended by delegates. All participants will take part in the next series of conferences which will also consist of 3 plenary sessions, 5 symposiums, posters, and oral presentations. This conference can be held with support from Prodia, Mandiri Inhealth and BPJS Kesehatan. (BK)
