As part of the Children’s Joy Week 2024, the Student Executive Board (BEM KM) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) collaborated with the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UGM) to provide free dental check-ups for children at the Tepus Village Hall, Tepus District, Gunungkidul Regency, on Sunday, 10 November 2024. This initiative aimed to provide dental health services to communities with limited access to healthcare.
A total of 44 children participated in the dental check-ups, which involved a team from FKG UGM consisting of 1 lecturer, 5 co-assistants, 5 students, and 3 technical staff. The collaboration also included student organizations GAMAPRO and DEFASCO, which supported the event.
The Head of the Children’s Joy Week 2024Committee, Ricky Putra Pangestu, expressed his appreciation for the synergy between the teams. "We are very grateful to the FKG UGM Community Service Team. The number of dentists in Gunungkidul is still very limited, so this initiative greatly helps the community in accessing dental health services," said Ricky.
He also emphasized the importance of continuing such programs in the future. "We hope that collaborations like this can be carried out again in the future. Free dental check-ups provide real benefits, especially for children in Tepus Village who need regular dental care," he added.
The enthusiasm of the community was evident, with children eagerly participating in the check-ups, accompanied by their parents. In addition to the check-ups, the FKG UGM team provided basic dental health education to the children, teaching them proper oral hygiene habits to maintain healthy teeth from an early age.
This initiative highlights the role of universities, particularly UGM, in making direct contributions to society. Through its collaboration with BEM KM UGM, FKG UGM demonstrated its commitment to improving public health, particularly in the often-overlooked field of dental health.
As part of Children’s Joy Week 2024, this program also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, by providing free dental health services to children in remote areas; SDG 4: Quality Education, by offering dental health education to children and the community; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaborations between various stakeholders to achieve a common mission.
Contributor: drg. Arif Rahman Setyawan | Author: Diva Luthfiana Lathifah
