Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Fauzan emphasized that tackling TB requires a collaborative approach involving ministries, government agencies, and universities.
"Universities possess immense potential to directly address community needs through targeted student community service (KKN), transformative learning, research, and public service," he said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He cited TB control efforts in Palu, Central Sulawesi, as a valuable model for strengthening collaboration between the government and academia.
The initiative in Palu brought together local universities, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"We will expand this model to other regions. In the near future, we will roll out similar collaborations in West Java and Jakarta," he said, adding that the approach would eventually be developed for nationwide implementation.
A mapping exercise conducted by the Higher Education Services Agency (LLDikti) Region IV across West Java and Banten identified 668 relevant and supporting study programs out of approximately 3,000 active programs.
The assessment identified a potential pool of 108,548 students from these programs who could contribute based on their respective fields of expertise.
Beyond healthcare, the initiative will involve academic disciplines related to education, public communication, data and technology, community service, and research.
In the initial phase in West Java, around 10,000 students will be involved through targeted KKN programs. Participation will later be expanded through student and faculty outreach initiatives, research projects, and academic credit transfer schemes.
Meanwhile, a similar mapping exercise conducted by LLDikti in Jakarta identified around 34,000 students from relevant study programs.
Experience from a collaborative TB management program involving five universities and the West Jakarta City Government is also shaping the expanded joint initiative in Jakarta.
Responding to the initiative, Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus highlighted the key role universities can play in raising public awareness about TB.
"The key is empowering the public to truly understand how TB is treated. That's why our collaboration with universities focuses heavily on education," Benjamin said.
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Translator: Sean Filo, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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