The “Kemenkes Goes to Campus” event carried the mission “Kemenkes Memanggil Talenta.” The Indonesian Ministry of Health directly visited various universities across Indonesia, including UNS. The presence of the Ministry of Health at UNS aimed to invite graduates to be part of and collaborate in the transformation of Indonesia’s healthcare system.

UNS and Ministry of Health leadership attended this “Kemenkes Goes to Campus” event. UNS representatives included Acting Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Yunus, M.S., along with faculty leaders from UNS. From the Ministry of Health, Director General of Public Health Maria Endang Sumiwi and other leaders from the Ministry’s central and regional offices in Surakarta were present.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Yunus welcomed the Ministry of Health to UNS with enthusiasm. He noted the large potential of UNS students, which aligns with the university’s nearly 50.000 students. He viewed this event as a form of link and match between universities and government institutions in terms of workforce absorption.

“This is very good. There is a link and match between universities and the government so that UNS alumni can be absorbed in their respective fields,” Prof. Yunus said.

Prof. Yunus’s statement was supported by the remarks of the Director General of Public Health. Maria Endang assured UNS young talents that career opportunities at the Ministry of Health are not limited to graduates with health backgrounds. Various fields of study can join according to the available formations.

“The Ministry of Health needs managerial skills, technology experts, communication and information, economic expertise, legal expertise, and social skills to manage quality health services,” Maria Endang said.

The call for UNS young talents coincides with the upcoming 2024 CPNS selection for the Ministry of Health. A total of 8.607 positions will be available in the 2024 CPNS selection. This includes 6.873 health worker positions and 1.770 technical positions. These openings are spread across 55 central office units and 163 UPT units.

Young talents from the Ministry of Health were present as speakers to share inspiring stories with the participants. They included Dr. Yutika Adnindya, Roy Berridge, S.E., M.K.M., and Risti Paramita Widasena. Interestingly, Risti is an alumnus of UNS’s D-3 Visual Communication Design (DKV) program. She now pursues a career at the Ministry of Health as a public relations officer. Other UNS alumni who have careers at the Ministry of Health also attended, such as Dr. Etik Retno Wiyati, Secretary of the Health Development Policy Agency; Dr. Triya Novita Dinihari, health surveillance officer; and Dr. Lucia Maya Savitri.

Participants had the opportunity to ask questions about careers at the Ministry of Health. Enthusiasm was evident as the event activities were arranged attractively. There was even an exercise session during the event. A group photo and the presentation of souvenirs marked the end of this event.

Humas UNS

Reporter: R. P. Adji

Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Indonesian Ministry of Health Invites UNS Young Talent to Participate in Indonesian Health Transformation appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

The ceremony was participated by 37 graduates from nine programs. In total, FK UNS has graduated 1,479 specialist doctors. According to the report from Vice-Dean for Academic, Research, and Student Affairs FK UNS, dr. Paramasari Dirgahayu, Ph.D., three graduates were from surgical science program, one from otolaryngology-head and neck surgery program; 10 from internal medicine program; two from the heart and vascular program; two from neurology program, three from obstetrics and gynecology program, six from orthopedic and traumatology program, six from pulmonology program and respiratory system, and four from radiology program.

Three graduates received a scholarship from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) RI, and 298 PPDS UNS graduates were funded by the scholarship. The two best graduates in the ceremony were Dedy Tri Wijaya, dr., Sp.PD., and Wisnu Yudho Hutomo, dr., Sp.PD., both achieved a 3.89 GPA from the internal medicine program. The youngest graduate in the ceremony was Nur Ismi Mustika Febriani, dr., Sp.PD., from the internal medicine program, graduated in her 30s.

In the ceremony led by Prof. Ahmad Yunus, Andika Dwi Cahya, dr., Sp.P., acted as a representative from the graduates, delivered a remark, and thanked all faculty members for the supervision, teaching, and learning process during their education. He emphasized that graduation is an appropriate moment to reflect on the meaning of the process and reminded his fellows to be ready with the new duties. “Hopefully, PPDS FK UNS could develop and leads in shaping reliable, a professional specialist physician with noble values, who have the capability to serve and help the community with their expertise and skills,” Andika stated.

The Dean of FK UNS, Prof. Reviono, mentioned in his remark that this graduation ceremony is a stage in building up a career. He also reminded the graduates that there are many more stages that they need to go through. However, no matter what the graduates select, they need to be responsible for their selection. “Graduation is not the end. You will continue serving the country, the nation, and humanity,” Prof. Reviono stated.

In the last remark, Prof. Ahmad Yunus congratulated the graduates and reminded them that they have a significant role in handling the current pandemic. The rapid development of healthcare and technology needs to be followed by specialist doctors’ knowledge improvements. Synergy and research collaboration are vital parts that need to be developed continuously.

“To the new 37 specialist physicians, I reminded you to maintain your professional oath and the name of FK UNS as your almamater,” Prof. Ahmad Yunus concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: Rangga P.A.
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post FK UNS Graduated 37 Specialist Doctors in February 2022 appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

The Omicron cases spike in Indonesia attracted public attention immediately since the cases increased after 110,620,807 Indonesian citizens received their 2nd dose of Covid-19 vaccination. Additionally, public concerns about Omicron began to emerge because news circulated that the Covid-19 vaccines, which are currently available, were not effective against Omicron. So, is it true?

A Clinical Pathology Specialist in Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Hospital, Surakarta, dr. Tonang Dwi Ardyanto, Sp.PK(K), Ph.D., FISQua ., states that the current Covid-19 vaccine only focuses on severe symptoms and death. If we wish to get a Covid-19 vaccine that can prevent infection in the upper respiratory tract, of course, it will take longer. “In countries facing Omicron, for example, the UK, vaccination coverage is already high. When Omicron spread, numerically, it was greater than the number of vaccinated groups. However, if it is proportional or in percentage, it (the Omicron case) is more than the group that has not been vaccinated,” explained dr. Tonang, Monday (12/27/2021).

Considering the rapid increase in Omicron cases in the UK, he explained that the risk of a Covid-19 vaccinated person being hospitalized when infected with Omicron is only 31-45 percent. Meanwhile, for those who have not received their Covid-19 vaccine shots, the risk of undergoing hospitalization in an isolation room when infected with Omicron increases to 50-70 percent.

dr. Tonang added that the Omicron hospitalization percentage for a vaccinated person was lower compared to the Delta variant, which spread in the middle of this year. “Meanwhile, for those recovering from Covid-19 infection but yet to get vaccinated, the risk is 11 percent compared to the Delta variant. This means that it is 4-7 times higher than the vaccinated group against Covid-19,” added dr. Tonang.

If you look at the Covid-19 vaccination coverage in Indonesia, the percentage of complete vaccine injections had reached 40.65 percent. Around 17 percent of the people have just received the first dosage, while around 42.3 percent have not received any dosage of Covid-19 vaccine. Based on this data, dr. Tonang is worried that the un-vaccinated groups against Covid-19 will be more prone to contracting Omicron.

“One point to remember is that the person who gets infected faster is the one with the laxest health protocol, those who do not wear a mask and do not wash their hands regularly. For those who have antibodies, the virus will clear faster. However, those who have yet to develop the antibodies against Covid-19 will need 14 days for the virus to disappear after the initial infection,” said dr. Tonang.

Do we need to use a booster?

Because the currently available Covid-19 vaccines are still not able to prevent people from the new SARS-CoV-2 variant, there has been discoursed for a booster shot(s). On a side note, the booster is different from the third dose, which many people have misinterpreted. Booster is an additional vaccine to ensure that the two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine that have been injected have formed immunity. Meanwhile, the third dose is a vaccine that must be injected and is the central part of the Covid-19 vaccine, like the first and second doses.

Furthermore, dr. Tonang said that the necessity of injecting a booster needs further investigation, considering that the report is still based on laboratory research. “We called it in vitro. Nothing wrong; however, a careful interpretation in the field is needed. The reports (on booster shots) are from countries with 70-80 percent vaccination rate, but in Indonesia, it is only around 40 percent,” added dr. Tonang.

He said, even though someone is at risk of contracting Omicron, it does not mean the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine is lost. dr. Tonang dismissed this assumption and emphasized that the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine was only decreasing. Instead of focusing on discussing the need for boosters, dr. Tonang asked the government to immediately intensify the injection of the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. “This is more important, more meaningful, and has a stronger communal effect against whatever Covid-19 variants that still exist and may exist,” he added.

When can a booster be given?

dr. Tonang explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) agreed that booster injections could be carried out when 50 percent of the population had been vaccinated against Covid-19. “Using an assumption that the proportion of survivors who have not been vaccinated is around 20 percent, most of the survivors have been vaccinated, then with 50 percent vaccination rate along with the 20 percent vaccinated survivor, vaccination rate can reach around 70 percent,” said dr. Tonang.

After reaching this percentage, he said the Ministry of Health could consider delivering a booster, given that the primary Covid-19 vaccination must still be carried out and boosters are addressed for high-risk groups.

“With the average speed of administering vaccines in the last seven days, we can reach 50 percent vaccination rate in about 30-50 days,” he concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: YCS Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post UNS Hospital Clinical Pathology Specialist Answers Doubts about Vaccine Effectiveness Against Omicron appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.