After more than two years of struggling, the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia is currently getting better. This cannot be separated from the participation and contribution of various parties, one of which is academics and experts. Therefore, the government of the Republic of Indonesia gave an award for handling COVID-19 or PPKM Awards.
The event, which was held at the Dhanapala Building, Ministry of Finance, Central Jakarta, was a collaboration between the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, TNI, Indonesian Police, and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Two lecturers from the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) dr. Pandu Riono, M.P.H., Ph.D., who is known as the Epidemic Agent and dr. Iwan Ariawan, M.S.P.H. received an award in the Best Government Supporting Academic category in Handling a Pandemic. During the pandemic, dr. Pandu and dr. Iwan is actively involved in various efforts to deal with COVID-19. Starting from filling in webinars with themes related to COVID-19, to becoming a research consultant. One of the things that has a significant impact is the holding of Sero Surveys which can reflect the immunity of the people in each region. The other academics who received this award include Prof. dr. Hari Kusnanto Josef, S.U., Dr.PH., from Gadjah Mada University (UGM); Dr. dr. Windhu Purnomo, M.S. from Airlangga University (Unair); and dr. Panji Fortuna Hadisemarto, M.P.H., from Padjadjaran University (Unpad).
Apart from these five academics, there are more than 800 other award recipients spread across 5 categories, namely the Regional Government Award Category, the Health Facility Award Category, the Regional TNI Unit Award Category, the Police Unit Award Category, and Other Award Categories.
The PPKM Award event was attended by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Joko Widodo. Apart from that, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi and various other government officials were also present.
The awards received by the two FPH UI lecturers are proof of the real work of the FPH UI Academics in dealing with public health problems in Indonesia. (BK)
