Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continues to demonstrate its commitment to serving Indonesia’s frontier regions through impactful community service initiatives.
Graduate students from the Master’s in Health Law (MHKes) program at the UGM Faculty of Law, in collaboration with the UGM Legal Aid and Consultation Center (PKBH), provided free basic medical services to residents at Berhala Port, Letung Subdistrict, Jemaja District, Anambas Islands Regency, from Apr. 28 to May 2, 2025.
This initiative was carried out in partnership with the nonprofit medical organization DoctorSHARE and the Anambas Islands District Government, Riau Islands Province.
The activity was part of a two-phase community outreach program held throughout April and May 2025. Services offered included general medical check-ups, basic laboratory tests, free ultrasound (USG) examinations, and minor surgeries, such as the removal of lumps, ganglion cysts, and hernias, conducted aboard the DoctorSHARE hospital ship RSK Lie Dharmawan II.
“We want to ensure that healthcare is not a privilege limited to urban populations. 3T (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged) regions like Anambas deserve to be prioritized,” said Nabila Khairunisa, a Health Law master’s student at the UGM Faculty of Law, in a press statement on Wednesday (Apr. 30).
The initiative received strong support from the local Health Office and community health centers (puskesmas), which played a key role in facilitating coordination and logistics. From early morning, hundreds of residents queued for services. On the first day alone, 80 patients were treated, receiving care such as blood pressure checks, random blood sugar testing, cholesterol and uric acid screenings, and pregnancy ultrasounds.
“Many patients came in with mild conditions like coughs, colds, and skin rashes. However, some required further medical attention, such as surgeries for hernias or lumps,” explained Dr. Muhammad Rizky Bafadhal, a member of the outreach team.
Patients eligible for minor surgery underwent additional screenings, including tests for HBsAg, HIV, and VDRL. Those who passed the screenings received surgery the following day aboard the hospital ship anchored nearby.
Beyond medical services, the program also included health and legal counseling sessions, as well as the donation of medical equipment to primary healthcare facilities in the Anambas Islands.
“This community service program provides a valuable learning opportunity for students while enabling UGM to fulfill its Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly in regions often beyond reach,” said Sahl Radian Setyaki, a representative of PKBH UGM Faculty of Law.
In addition to delivering direct services, the initiative also contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to good health and well-being, as well as reducing inequalities.
“We hope this program will be a starting point for broader UGM involvement in border areas like Anambas,” said I Wayan Artawan, another UGM student involved in the program.
Author: Bolivia Rahmawati
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photograph: MHKes UGM