UNAIR NEWS – The Dean of Universitas Airlangga’s Faculty of Medicine (FK), Prof. Dr. Budi Santoso, dr., SpOG (Subsp. FER), formally sent off the Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital (RSTKA) medical team on a mission to Mandangin Island. The group of 12 volunteering doctors departed on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Among them were two UNAIR alumni: Dr. Nur Safitri and Dr. Rizka Uswatun.

Beyond UNAIR alumni, the mission included general practitioners from various universities, including Universitas Kristen Krida Wacana, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, and Universitas Brawijaya. Highlighting this diversity, Prof. Budi Santoso underscored that RSTKA is not exclusive to UNAIR but serves a broader national purpose. “RSTKA is no longer just UNAIR’s—it belongs to Indonesia. More precisely, it is UNAIR’s contribution to the nation.”

This sentiment reflects UNAIR’s inclusive approach, welcoming volunteers from different institutions. One of them, Dr. Fairuziah, a Universitas Padjadjaran graduate, had previously participated in an internship program in Garut before joining this mission. Meanwhile, Dr. Yohanes Eka, the Field Coordinator for the Mandangin mission, noted that the enthusiasm among applicants was overwhelming. “Ideally, we would have deployed everyone who applied, as they were all highly qualified. Stay tuned for the next mission,” he stated.

The 2025 RSTKA mission carries the theme “Early Detection of Catastrophic Diseases in Remote Islands”, aligning with the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s free medical screening initiative. “We prioritize remote island communities, where access to diagnostic tools and medical specialists is extremely limited. With our floating hospital, we can provide both free medical screenings and necessary treatments in these underserved areas,” he explained.

The Mandangin mission is made possible through sponsorships from SKK Migas and Husky-CNOOC Madura Limited (HCML) Mandangin, with additional support from Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) UNAIR, and FK UNAIR. Furthermore, the initiative is backed by the Sampang Regency Government, the Surabaya branch of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Bakti-Komdigi, PT Pelindo, PT Pelindo Jasa Maritim, and Aperindo.

Author: RSTKA Team

Editor: Yulia Rohmawati