As an effort to create a young generation that cares about health, the Faculty of Nursing (FIK) of Universitas Indonesia (UI) conducted community service (pengmas) titled “Peningkatan Budaya Sehat Anak Sekolah di Kota Ramah Anak Depok” (Improving the Healthy Culture of School Children in the Child-Friendly City of Depok). This program involves students from SMPN 33, SMPN 32, and SMPN 3 Depok with an innovative approach based on World Café. With this method, students are invited to discuss interactively on various health topics that are relevant to their lives, while also forming them into active agents of change in their surroundings.
The Vice Rector for Infrastructures and Facilities of Universitas Indonesia who previously served as Dean of FIK UI, Agus Setiawan, S.Kp., M.N., D.N., said, “This program is one of the real manifestations of FIK UI’s contribution in building a healthier society. We believe that the younger generation has great potential to bring about change, starting from simple healthy behaviors that they can practice every day.” He added that this program will be implemented from August 13, 2024, to December 17, 2024.
In its implementation, the program began at SMPN 33 Depok with a Training of Trainer (TOT) program for seven students who have become Duta Budaya Sehat (Healthy Culture Ambassadors) since 2023. These ambassadors then support the implementation of the program at SMPN 32 and SMPN 3 Depok by providing direct education to their peers. The implementing team consists of FIK UI lecturers, namely Dr. Hanny Handiyani, S.Kp.; M.Kep., Dr. Enie Novieastari, S.Kp., MSN.; Dr. Tuti Afriani, S.Kep., M.Kep.; and Ns. Andi Amalia Wildani, S.Kep., M.Kep. In addition, the team is also accompanied by FIK UI doctoral students, namely Ns. Ichsan Rizany, S.Kep., M.Kep.; Ns. Cicilia Ika Wulandari, S.Kep., M.Kep.; and Ns. Moh Heri Kurniawan, S.Kep., M.Kep.
The Head of the FIK UI Community Service Team, Dr. Hanny Handiyani, S.Kp., M.Kep., expressed her hopes for the positive impact of this program. “We hope that through this activity, students can become agents of change in promoting a healthy lifestyle culture in their surroundings,” said Dr. Hanny.
She explained that in the World Café discussion session, this concept focused on five main topics designed to increase students’ awareness of the importance of healthy living behaviors in supporting their physical, mental, and social well-being. One of the topics of concern was simple healthy behavior, which included education on how to wash hands with the correct six-step technique, maintaining personal hygiene such as bathing regularly, and the habit of disposing of garbage in its place.
She further said that this habit not only helps prevent disease but also creates a healthier and more comfortable environment for students. In addition, the importance of infection prevention was also conveyed, including education on coughing and sneezing etiquette, wearing masks when sick, and washing hands with soap under running water. This approach aims to minimize the risk of spreading infectious diseases in the school and home environment.
Then, another topic that was the focus was the dangers of unhealthy behavior, such as smoking, consuming alcohol, and doing other risky activities that can damage long-term health. This discussion provided an understanding of the negative impacts of these behaviors, including the risk of serious diseases such as cancer, impaired organ function, and social consequences that can be detrimental to students’ futures.
Furthermore, students were invited to understand the negative impacts of dependence on gadgets, such as sleep disorders due to using gadgets before bed, decreased quality of social interactions, and the emergence of feelings of isolation. Practical solutions were also provided, such as setting limits on gadget use time, integrating physical activity into daily routines, and arranging a balanced study and rest schedule.
In addition, Dr. Hanny also said that this discussion underlined the importance of healthy psychosocial behavior, such as efforts to prevent and overcome bullying in the school environment. Students were taught how to create positive relationships with peers, maintain mental health through effective stress management, and contribute to building a supportive and inclusive school environment.
“By providing students with the opportunity to share experiences and ideas in a collaborative setting, World Café not only becomes a place to learn but also builds collective awareness about the importance of supporting personal and community health. Through this discussion, students are expected to be able to apply the knowledge they have gained to create positive changes in their daily lives and become agents of change in their environment,” said Dr. Hanny.
At the end of the activity, the six best students from each school were selected as Duta Budaya Sehat (Healthy Culture Ambassadors). They were given the responsibility to be role models for other students. To strengthen their role, the Healthy Culture Ambassadors were given guidance and support from the school, including teachers and supervisors, so that they could carry out their duties optimally. They were also encouraged to innovate in conveying health messages through various creative media, such as posters, presentations, or campaign activities at school.
“This community service event is a form of concern for each other, including in the health sector. This activity also supports the healthy school program. Every educational unit must strive for their school to become a healthy school,” said Joko Soetrisno, M.Pd., Head of Junior High School Development, Depok City Education Office.
