Prof. Agung Waluyo, S.Kp., M.Sc., Ph.D., was inaugurated as permanent professor at the Faculty of Nursing (FIK) Universitas Indonesia, on Wednesday (15/11). He was inaugurated after delivering his inaugural speech entitled “Caring in Nursing for Patients through Community Service and Empowerment to Care for the Country” at the Convention Hall, UI Campus, Depok.
In his research, Prof. Agung brings a deep understanding of nursing concepts that focus on humanitarian aspects and community empowerment. From the results of his research, Prof. Agung highlighted the crucial role of nurses in ending stigma against people living with HIV (PLHIV) and supporting assistance for those in correctional institutions (Lapas).
A gradual process is needed in order for them to be well accepted in society. However, this idea emphasizes that nurses must not only fight for the acceptance of PLHIV, but must also be the main supporters in efforts to end stigma and discrimination. One important effort is assistance for PLHIV, especially in correctional institutions. This assistance includes counseling, testing, and assistance during antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. In addition, assistance does not only stop when PLHIV are released, but continues when they return to society.
Furthermore, Prof. Agung said that assistance does not only focus on PLHIV themselves, but also involves their partners and those closest to them. Therefore, the partner and friendship notification program is the focus of this research and community service program. It also emphasizes that the more nurses involved in this program, the greater the reach to prevent the spread of HIV infection among correctional inmates, key at-risk populations, and their partners and friends.
Meanwhile, in caring for patients, a nurse is not only obliged to provide health services, but also carries deep human values. Caring is not just an action, but a philosophy that guides nurses to always be by the patient’s side, fight for their rights, and involve the community in the care process. Therefore, an approach that is caring, advocacy, appreciation, involvement, coaching, and giving is needed to form the foundation of holistic care.
“Caring is the lifeblood of the nursing profession. Caring for the country from exposure to HIV infection requires the support of all parties, not just nurses. However, nurses and other health workers must not become agents of spreading stigma. Nurses and health workers must be at the forefront of efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with HIV,” said Prof. Great.
He hopes that this movement to assist PLHIV will create a foundation for more nursing troops to participate in efforts to care for the nation and prevent the spread of HIV infection. With a holistic view and caring approach, nurses can be the main driving force towards a healthier society and free of HIV stigma.
As Dean of FIK UI, Agus Setiawan, S.Kp., MN., DN., expressed his pride at the inauguration of Prof. Agung as a professor at FIK UI. “We feel very proud to be able to inaugurate Prof. Agung Waluyo as permanent professor at FIK UI. He has not only contributed to the development of nursing science, but also led change through a deep understanding of the meaning of caring and community empowerment in the context of modern nursing,” said Agus, who is also the General Chair of the Indonesian Nurses Association Educational Institution (AIPNI).
In the procession led directly by UI Rector Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., among the guests who came was the Special Health Care and Rehabilitation Coordinator/Intermediate Policy Analyst of the Directorate General of Corrections, Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Dr. Hetty Widiastuti, M.H.; Dean of FIK Muhammadiyah University Miciko Umeda, S.Kp., M.Biomed.; Chairman of the National Board of the Indonesian National Nurses Association (DPP PPNI) Dr. Harif Fadhillah, S.Kp., S.H., M.Kep., M.H.; and Chair of the Indonesian Nursing Council Dr. Amelia, S.Kp., MN
Prof. Agung Waluyo completed his bachelor’s degree in nursing at FIK UI in 1993. Then, in 2000 he completed his master’s degree at Liverpool John Moores University, England and he succeeded in getting a doctorate at the College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, in 2011. Some of his scientific works in recent years are entitled A qualitative study of healthcare providers’ attitudes toward assisted partner notification for people with HIV in Indonesia (2023); Impart: findings from a prison-based model of HIV assisted partner notification in Indonesia (2023); and Exploring HIV Stigma among future healthcare providers in Indonesia; AIDS Care (2022).
