The Pediatric Dentistry Specialist Study Program at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), conducted an international community service activity to raise awareness about the dental health of children with special needs at Special Needs School (SLB) Negeri 1 Bantul on 16 July 2024. This event was part of the Dental Summer Course 2024, themed "Innovations in Digital Dentistry for Inclusion Oral Health: Addressing Special Needs."
The event involved various faculties at UGM, including the Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing. Additionally, students and lecturers from several Asian countries participated in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
In her speech, drg. Shoimah Alfa Makmur, MDSc., Sp.KGA emphasized the importance of collaboration. "Through this activity, we hope to create a lasting impact on improving the dental health of children with special needs," she said. "We believe every child, regardless of their special needs, deserves access to quality dental care and adequate attention."
The activities included dental health education, dental examinations, simple treatments, and the distribution of dental health souvenirs to students. One participating dentist added, "We believe that small steps like these can raise greater awareness of the importance of maintaining dental health from an early age."
The event was also enlivened by performances from students of SLB Negeri 1 Bantul, which added to the festive atmosphere. Krisdi Sujatwanto, Head of SLB Negeri 1 Bantul, expressed appreciation for the event, saying, "We are very grateful for the attention given to our students. With this free dental education and check-up, we feel greatly assisted in maintaining the health of our children, especially since they have special needs."
The program aims not only to provide short-term care but also to create sustainable dental health practices for children with special needs. This activity reflects FKG UGM’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Contributor : drg. Arif Rahman | Author: Diva Luthfiana
