Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Luncheon Meeting with Bontang Regency Health Office Officials in Sekip Room, University Club (UC), Universitas Gadjah Mada. The Luncheon Meeting, which was opened by the Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Community Service, was held as a follow-up to the UGM Cooperation with PT Kaltim Methanol Industri (KMI) which has been implemented since January 2020.
One form of cooperation implementation is community service targeting children with special needs in the Buffer Zone of PT KMI in Bontang, East Kalimantan. Children with special needs (ABK) are the target of activities to carry out the orders of Law No. 23 of 2003 to pay special attention to ABK who are part of Indonesian children who must get protection and attention, in order to support the future of Indonesia. In addition, currently in Bontang there is no pediatric dentist on duty so the Faculty of Dentistry is called to assist these children. The service was carried out to implement the research results of UGM Dentistry Doctoral Program students.
Children who are born with disabilities have high dependence and cannot be fully independent, especially in maintaining oral health. The oral cavity is the entrance of all substances from outside to the body. Maintaining good oral health will have a significant impact on systemic health. Based on these considerations, the Dentistry Doctoral Education Study Program leads community service for children with disabilities by applying the results of student research, among others:
- A module for oral health counseling for children with special needs that has been tested in Yogyakarta and is a research product of Dr. Arnela Nur SSIT, MDSc with the supervisor Prof. Dr. Sofia Retnowati, M.Psi. The module was applied to conduct psychoeducation on oral health maintenance for children with special needs, parents, and special school teachers in Bontang. Psychoeducation is complemented by an oral health status check, followed by 1 month of monitored independent activities, and follow-up examinations and increased knowledge of parents and teachers to support the oral health of children with disabilities.
- The development of a design and prototype of a special toothbrush for children with disabilities was carried out after collecting supporting data because children with disabilities experience limitations in cleaning their teeth independently and comfortably.
The luncheon meeting also presented material on Medical Geology by Ir. Didit Hari Barianto, M. Eng., Ph.D. and Precision Medicine by Prof dr. Sofia Mubarika H, M.Med.Sc, Ph.D. Both speakers emphasized the importance of providing care and treatment in the future that is no longer generic but by considering individual differences in body conditions, genetics, environment, and lifestyle. It was conveyed by Ir. Didit Hari Barianto, M. Eng., Ph.D. that environmental conditions will affect phenotypes. In line with this, precision medicine is needed to provide special care for children with disabilities and the community as well as preventive efforts that are carried out comprehensively by involving various scientific disciplines.
Future cross-disciplinary cooperation starting in 2024 will be carried out by involving more diverse scientific disciplines to improve the health and welfare of the community in the PT KMI bufferzone area and the wider Bontang region.
This is a form of the Faculty's commitment to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in the 3rd pillar, namely Healthy and Prosperous Life, the 4th pillar of Quality Education, and the 17th pillar of Partnership to Achieve Goals.
#sdgs #goodhealthandwellbeing #qualityeducation #partnershipforthegoals
