On Saturday, April 1, 2023, the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., was the speaker in a webinar organized by the Regional Higher Education Service Institute and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. Four other speakers were also present at this webinar, namely the Chair of the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Prof. dr. Menaldi Rasmin, SpP(K), FISR., FCCP.; Specialist in Psychiatry at the University of North Sumatra, Prof. Dr. dr. Elmeida Effendy, M.Ked(KJ), SpKJ(K); Ahmad Dahlan University Pharmacology International Researcher, Prof. Dr. Dyah Aryani Perwitasari, M.Sc., Ph.D., Apt., and Former Head of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Prof. dr. Amin Soebandrio, Ph.D., SpMK(K);
In the webinar with the theme “Welcoming Post-Pandemic Conditions”, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., explained starting from the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Indonesia to recommendations for handling COVID-19.
Until March 2023, there were 6.7 million cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia, of which 6.5 million recovered. Now, the trend of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has decreased significantly. “This decline in COVID-19 cases is closely related to vaccination coverage. The data shows that almost all Indonesian residents already have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies obtained from vaccinations or because of transmission of COVID-19,” said Prof. Mondastry. According to him, the higher the vaccination status, the higher the increase in SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in the body.
Still related to the COVID-19 vaccination, Prof. dr. Mondastri then explained the provisional recommendations provided by the World Health Organization. “The first is to maintain the momentum of the COVID-19 vaccination, which hopes to achieve 100% coverage in high-risk populations. This vaccination can also be attempted to be integrated with routine immunization programs.
Further recommendations given include:
- Improving reporting of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance data
- Increasing the utilization of available medical treatment facilities and ensuring their availability in the long term
- Maintain existing strong national response capacities and prepare for future events
- Continue to work with the community and its leaders to tackle the infodemic
- Continuing to adjust international travel interventions/regulations based on risk assessment
- Continue to support medical and epidemiological research.
The presence of the Dean of FPH UI at the national webinar shows FPH UI’s commitment to continuing to improve the health status of the Indonesian people. The hope is that FPH UI and other institutions can continue to work together, especially in preparing health conditions after the COVID-19 pandemic. (WR)
