The UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) collaborated with the Faculty of Medicine of Pattimura University in the “Festival Pascasarjana FK-KMK UGM” series on Saturday (23/6).
The event, broadcast live from Pattimura University in Ambon, was attended by academics from both universities.
“The main purpose of our roadshow here is to introduce the study programs at UGM. We know that the distribution of healthcare professionals is uneven and in high demand,” said Dr. Ahmad Hamim Sadewa, MD, the faculty’s vice dean for academic affairs and student affairs.
“We hope this event can increase knowledge and provide alternative options for lecturers, both from undergraduate to postgraduate studies and postgraduate to doctoral studies.”
Dean of Pattimura University’s Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Bertha Jean Que, opines that one of the factors contributing to the uneven distribution of healthcare professionals, especially doctors, is the reluctance of medical graduates to pursue professional studies other than becoming medical specialists, supported by the policy that sets the maximum age for pursuing postgraduate education at 35 years.
“We hope to collaborate further, especially in the three pillars of higher education,” Dr. Que said.
The series of events continued with a talk show and discussion on the “Innovation in Medical Health Interventions and Technology” presented by UGM, highlighting the significance of health innovation and intervention to combat dengue fever in the country.
The Ministry of Health reported a significant increase in deaths due to DBD, with 705 in 2021 and 1,183 in 2022.
“One of the innovations we have developed is the Wolbachia-carrying mosquito technology. This particular genus of bacteria can inhibit the dengue virus. We mated male mosquitoes with female mosquitoes, one of which had Wolbachia bacteria. When the mosquito eggs containing the dengue virus emerged, the virus did not develop,” said Professor Adi Utarini.
This Wolbachia bacteria innovation has brought a new solution to control dengue mosquitoes in the community.
“We tested it in the community. In Yogyakarta, we released Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes into villages, hoping they would mate with the mosquitoes there. The hypothesis is that all their offspring will have Wolbachia bacteria. That way, the spread of the dengue virus will be inhibited, and it might even stop,” she added.
Author: Tasya