FPH UI Holds 3rd Public Discussion “The Global Outbreak of Monkeypox: Strategy and Preparation for Indonesia to Face the Monkeypox Outbreak”

Sunday, September 11, 2022, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) together with the Postgraduate Student Association (HMP) FPH UI held a Public Discussion 3 “The Global Outbreak of Monkeypox: Strategy and Preparation for Indonesia to Face the Monkeypox Outbreak”. This activity was open to the public which was attended by the Management of the Indonesian Public Health Association (IAKMI), the Management of the Alumni Association of FPH UI, BEM of Universities throughout Indonesia, and 1074 participants who were held online through the Zoom Meeting platform and broadcast live on the Youtube channel of HMP FPH UI.

On August 20, 2022, the Ministry of Health confirmed that one Indonesian citizen was confirmed to have monkeypox. The Head of HMP FPH UI 2022, Dwi Octa Amalia, S.K.M., said in his speech that this activity was held as a form of commitment to implementing the tri dharma of higher education in participating in providing education to the public about the monkeypox outbreak.

The Dean of FPH UI, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc in his remarks as well as opening this activity said that the purpose of this activity is to further educate and disseminate this information to the public in the context of risk communication. “FPH UI has an obligation to carry out an academic role to always liven up the academic atmosphere in the development of public health science for early preparedness and educating the public, especially risk communication related to monkeypox,” said the Dean of FPH UI.

This activity also presents dr. Chita Septiawati, M.K.M., from the Directorate of Health Surveillance and Quarantine, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia as a resource person who discussed the mitigation and readiness of health facilities in controlling monkeypox outbreaks. Various efforts have been made through the strategies implemented by the Government of Indonesia, namely rapid information gathering, detection, treatment and vaccines, and increasing public awareness and coordination. Activities carried out include training field officers for MSM outreach by the community, rapid risk assessment involving cross-sector, socialization of monkeypox recording through NAR, discussions with experts regarding monkeypox in the future, and issuance of documents in the form of circulars.

Further, dr. Syahrizal Syarif, M.P.H., Ph.D., Epidemiologist and Lecturer of FPH UI, explained the application of one health-based epidemiology in the prevention and control of monkeypox outbreaks. In his presentation, dr. Syahrizal conveyed that the concept of one health is a concept of one health between the health of animals, humans, and the environment. Monkeypox is called an emerging disease or a new infectious disease whose incidence has increased significantly in the last two decades. “60.3% of new diseases that appear in the world are caused by zoonoses, namely the transfer from animals to humans, and 71.8% of zoonoses are generally wild animals. one health, which is very relevant in monkeypox cases,” said Dr. Syahrizal. 

On the same occasion, dr. Oka Wilsen Joung, Sp.PD., FPH UI Postgraduate Student explained the role of the younger generation in the prevention and control of monkeypox. The role of the younger generation in community-based surveillance through early detection efforts is very necessary, so that each case can be handled immediately so that transmission does not occur in the community, and sufferers can get treatment immediately. The main key to breaking the chain of transmission is through good close contact tracing, which can help people at risk of being exposed to be identified more quickly, so that their health status can be monitored, and symptomatic sufferers receive immediate medical care. Young people can also play a role in community engagement to ensure that close contacts are not stigmatized, as well as provide education to at-risk populations.

This seminar is expected to add insight in preventing and reducing the risk of transmission as a strategy and preparation for dealing with monkeypox outbreaks in Indonesia. (AHS)