In a spirit of knowledge-sharing and compassion, the Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), through its Dental Summer Course, conducted a dental and oral health education session for students at State Special School (SLBN) 1 Bantul on Tuesday, 16 July 2024. This event involved 145 international students from various Asian countries including Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Yemen, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.
In his speech, Krisdi Sujatwanto, Head of SLBN 1 Bantul, expressed gratitude for the presence of the Dental Summer Course participants. “We are very thankful for the visit and the active participation of the students in providing education to our students. This activity is very beneficial, especially in raising awareness about the importance of maintaining dental and oral health,” Krisdi said.
drg. Henytaria Fajrianti, Sp. KG, Chair of the Dental Summer Course, mentioned that this event is a form of community service by the students. “We hope that through this activity, students can learn to be more sensitive to the needs of patients with special needs. Additionally, we want to foster empathy and social concern among the students,” she said.
The program targeted 60 students from SLBN 1 Bantul. The students welcomed the visiting students with great enthusiasm, which further motivated the participants to engage actively in the activities.
Raihan, one of the Dental Summer Course, admitted to feeling somewhat awkward at first when interacting with the students. However, with the help of accompanying teachers, he was able to provide effective education. “At first, I was a bit nervous, but the accompanying teacher was very helpful. I’m happy to share knowledge with the friends here, and I also learned some sign language,” Raihan said.
SLBN 1 Bantul has been operational since 1996 and is tasked with providing special education services from basic preparation to advanced and secondary levels. The school serves children with special needs, including those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically disabled, intellectually disabled, autistic, and others.
This dental and oral health education activity for SLBN 1 Bantul students aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goals number 3 (Good Health and Well-being), number 4 (Quality Education), number 10 (Reduced Inequality), and number 17 (Partnerships to Achieve the Goals).
Author: Fajar Budi H. | Photo: Fajar Budi H.
