Entering its sixth decade, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) held its 60th Anniversary celebration as a moment of reflection, appreciation, and future projection. Carrying the theme “Noble in Character, Excellent in Performance,” the celebration featured a series of events that showcased FPH UI’s continuous contributions to the development of public health in Indonesia.
One of the highlights of the anniversary was the keynote speech delivered by the Head of the West Java Provincial Health Office, Dr. Raden Vini Adiani Dewi, MMRS, representing the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, SH, MH. In her presentation titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Improving Public Health in West Java: A Regional Government Perspective,” Dr. Vini addressed a number of critical issues in health development across the province, which has the largest population in Indonesia. Located in Depok, West Java, FPH UI has responded to various local health challenges by demonstrating real contributions through education, research, and community service.
During her keynote, Dr. Vini elaborated on current challenges faced by West Java, home to around 50 million people—roughly 20 percent of the national population. “About 20 percent of Indonesians, or approximately 50 million people, live in West Java. This represents not only a great opportunity but also an extraordinary challenge for the health system,” said Dr. Vini. The province comprises 27 regencies and cities spread across more than 5,300 villages and 600 urban communities. This vast and diverse landscape presents unique challenges, including persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates. In 2024 alone, West Java recorded 749 maternal deaths and 5,533 infant deaths, the highest figures in the country.
Another concern raised by Dr. Vini was the prevalence of stunting. Although the region has long ranked among those with the highest stunting rates, West Java has shown a significant downward trend over the past two years—thanks to cross-sectoral collaboration and active community participation. On the other hand, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), HIV/AIDS, and childhood diarrhea remain pressing public health issues, with approximately 7,000 new HIV cases recorded in 2025.
“Transforming community lifestyles to be healthier, building a culture of clean living, and strengthening community-based public health efforts are crucial steps,” Dr. Vini emphasized. She concluded by highlighting the importance of synergy among local government, health professionals, academia, and communities to drive sustainable change.
The spirit of collaboration and contribution toward public health development was also reflected in FPH UI’s journey over the past three years. As an academic institution that plays a vital role in producing quality health professionals, FPH UI continues to innovate and expand its impact through notable achievements between 2022 and 2025. The faculty demonstrated a strong commitment to producing excellent graduates and creating real impact, with strategic initiatives such as student mobility programs through the Public Health Study Tour and UI Creates, which welcome students from both domestic and international backgrounds to foster global networking and learning experiences.
Innovations in learning were also strengthened through the provision of inclusive and flexible Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), extending access to public health education to the general public. International collaboration grew through enhanced teaching capacity among lecturers and active participation of FPH UI students in various global forums.
Over the past three years, FPH UI has added 16 professors in the field of public health, established integrated laboratories, and encouraged an increase in scientific publications from its academic community. In the realm of community service, FPH UI introduced data-driven solutions such as the establishment of the Stunting Resource Center—a hub for research-based education and policy advocacy on stunting.
In terms of governance, FPH UI has demonstrated significant transformation through innovations such as the Performance Information System (SISKA), which is now being replicated across Universitas Indonesia. In 2022, FPH UI achieved the SNI ISO 37001:2016 certification for its Anti-Bribery Management System, followed by the Clean and Serving Bureaucracy Zone (WBBM) award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology in 2023, and recognition as the best public service unit in providing inclusive facilities for vulnerable groups.
These milestones reaffirm FPH UI’s role not only as an academic institution but also as a catalyst for change—ready to address public health challenges at the local, national, and global levels. (DFD)