UNAIR NEWS  – One of the United Nation organizations which focuses on Health,  World Health Organization (WHO), keeps raising awareness on the importance of Health even in Indonesia. This time, WHO representative in Indonesia delivered a lecture on Global Issue and WHO programme on Nutrition in Faculty of Public Health Universitas Airlangga, Monday, May 22.

“Currently, nutrition is included as one of the factors of development, including the education. If there is a bad condition, it will affect the quality of their work, education and health,” said Sugeng Eko Irianto MPS., Ph.D., as the representative of WHO Indonesia.

Sugeng also said that nutrition and human resources development is an investment. Initial commitment is the main key, not to work separately. It needs synergy of many elements related to real efforts made in solving nutritional problems.

“Nutritional problem is not only handled by the ministry at the central but also at the regional level. Surveys are done in some regions to classify the committed regions in handling the problems then create synergy to formulate solutions on the problems found,” he continued.

He also said that other stakeholders’ involvement such as from the private institutions and universities are also important.

“This is a challenge and opportunity  for Universitas Airlangga to be the government partner, especially FKM which can promote paper or research concepts supporting the government to deal with nutritional issues,” said Sugeng in presence of Undergraduate and Master program students.

Dean of FKM, Prof. Dr. Tri Martiana dr., MS., in the same occasion said that students can contribute in education, research and community service. “Community service should not be partial but always be continued. For example, in dealing with obesity in a supervised area. It is a part of education responsibility,” said Tri.

“As university responsible for the education, FKM UNAIR collaborates with the ministry and other partners to overcome the health problems,” he said.

Author: Helmy Rafsanjani

Editor: Nuri Hermawan