Research outcomes produced at higher learning institutions, including Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), will not be well distributed to society or industry without the media’s role. To enhance the result, UGM also works with other partners, including the government.
This was stated by UGM Vice-Rector for Research and Community Service, Prof. Dr. Suratman, when opening a UGM Corner interactive dialogue in the UGM library on Friday (12/2), which is a collaboration between UGM, Koran Sindo, and Sindo Radio.
“To deliver research outcomes or community services, we cannot work by ourselves. We need partners, including the media,” said Suratman.
He added if the outcomes from UGM could be passed on to society, they would be able to make use of those directly. According to Suratman, UGM researchers were currently enhancing several research areas, such as disaster mitigation or peat land management.
“UGM feels it a calling to give input to the government on those matters. So, the cooperation with the media like this one will be expanded,” he said.
The first edition of the UGM Corner event raised the topic Eliminating Dengue Fever with Wolbachia. Resource persons who were present were Head of Prevention and Mitigation of Health Problems Department in the Health Agency of Yogyakarta, dr. Daryanto., M.Kes, as well as researcher from Eliminate Dengue Project (EDP) UGM group, dr. Riris Andono Ahmad., MPH., Ph.D.
drg. Daryanto said the government paid serious attention to the dengue fever issue. In Yogyakarta last year there were 3,420 cases of which 35 were fatal. In 2016 up to February, there were 479 cases, four of these were fatal.
“From January to March the disease culminates. We continue the campaigns to eliminate mosquito hotbeds and other preventive measures,” confirmed Daryanto.
Similarly, dr. Riris Andono Ahmad explained the EDP method had been practised in several countries to minimise the contraction of dengue fever. This method has also been implemented in Sleman and Bantul regencies. “Wolbachia is proven to minimise the contraction of dengue fever,” said Riris.