Community service (pengmas) carried out by the academic community of the Universitas Indonesia (UI) spread to various places in Indonesia, including Motaain, Atambua, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The form of contribution to the community carried out at the location was in the form of actions in the fields of education and health with the theme “Atambua Menggapai Pelita.” This activity was initiated jointly by the Student Executive Board (BEM) FKG, BEM Faculty of Nursing (FIK), Directorate of Community Service and Empowerment (DPPM) UI, Research and Community Service Unit FKG, and Directorate of Student Affairs (Ditmawa) UI, carried out on August 9-21, 2024.
While there, the group dedicated their knowledge and skills and conducted health interventions for students of Inpres Motaain Elementary School, Atambua, and the community of Silawan Village, Belu Regency, NTT. According to Sabrina Nabila Putri, a FKG student who is the Chief Executive, this program includes formal and informal teaching and learning activities (KBM), and health interventions. Formal KBM uses the fun learning method which aims to increase students’ interest in learning, as well as support their optimal development. Informal KBM includes the Nusantara Culture Class, Introduction to Profession Class, Digital Literacy Class for teachers, Balanced Nutrition Class, Arts Class, and Environmental Commander Class.
“We from Inpres Motaain Elementary are very proud and grateful. The presence of UI students here can empower our teachers at school. The learning strategies and methods in this remote area are still lacking, so the program provided by our friends at UI can help us enrich the teaching and learning methods,” said Maria Tai S.Pd., Principal of Inpres Motaain Elementary.
The health interventions carried out were health screening and education on Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS), education on preventing stunting, the dangers of early marriage, smoking prevention efforts in adolescents, and building hand washing and toothbrush facilities in the yard of Inpres Motaain Elementary.
“From this community service activity, of course, we experienced many changes and received contributions, both knowledge, as well as facilities that were built. Praise God, the UI Community Service Team came and left a physical building in the form of a place to wash hands and a place to brush teeth. We think this is an extraordinary thing,” said Yulius Muruk, S. Ag., one of the teachers at Inpres Motaain Elementary.
The school promises to continue to maintain the facilities built by the UI Community Service Team. In the future, the school will hold meetings with parents to educate and invite them to jointly maintain the handwashing and toothbrush facilities that have been built.
Meanwhile, health intervention activities were also carried out for the local community which took place at the Chapel of St. Michael Seroja Church, on Sunday, August 10. The activity, which aims to increase basic health awareness in the local community, was attended by more than 50 people. The health services provided include height and weight checks, blood pressure checks, blood sugar and uric acid checks, dental and oral health checks, and health education.
“This health intervention is part of our commitment to bring health services closer to the community that is difficult to reach. We hope that this activity will not only provide direct benefits to residents but also increase their knowledge about the importance of maintaining health,” said Sabrina.
Head of the Regional Development Planning, Research, and Development Agency (BP4D) of Belu Regency, Rine Bere Baria, S.T., assessed that the programs presented by the UI Community Service Team were appropriate synergy programs in responding to various problems, especially those related to education and health in Belu Regency.
“We are very grateful for visiting and seeing our conditions here firsthand. We really need community service like the ones done by UI. I hope that this community service activity will continue in the following years and shift to other villages that are also part of the Republic of Indonesia,” said Rine.
