Nadhira Zahrany Wishnuputri, an undergraduate student in Public Health at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI), has once again achieved remarkable success by being invited to the ASCEND Leadership Program organized by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Bloomberg School of Public Health. This 9-month program is an international platform that provides leadership training to young healthcare professionals from various countries. The program’s main focus is on tobacco control, one of the most pressing public health issues globally, including in Indonesia. The ASCEND Leadership Program aims to train 75 young leaders in the field of public health. The training is conducted through intensive online classes and face-to-face sessions, inviting participants to collaborate on group projects aimed at solving health issues in their countries. In addition to the online sessions, participants also attend a 5-day in-person meeting in the Philippines, where they meet and discuss with global health experts, including officials from the WHO Western Regional Office.
In the Philippines, Nadhira had the opportunity to exchange ideas with healthcare professionals from various countries. “We were divided into several groups to discuss various tobacco control projects. We also visited the WHO Western Regional Office in the Philippines and had direct discussions with the Director of WHO’s Western Pacific Region, Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala,” said Nadhira. Reaching this stage was not easy for Nadhira, as she had to go through a selection process that included document review and interviews. “During the interview, I discussed my motivation, vision, and plans to contribute to public health in Indonesia,” she explained. Although Nadhira’s experience in public health was not specifically related to tobacco, it had exposed her to various important issues such as stunting, tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and environmental health, all of which provided a strong foundation for her further involvement in tobacco control through the ASCEND Leadership Program.
Throughout her studies at FPH UI, Nadhira has been actively involved in various public health-related activities, especially through her role as the Head of the Social Department of the Student Union (BEM) of FPH UI. “This experience motivated me to apply for the ASCEND program. I hope to implement the lessons learned here in tobacco control efforts in Indonesia,” said Nadhira. Her involvement in these activities has taught her valuable lessons about the complexities of public health issues. “I have learned to think critically about solving problems, sharpen leadership skills, and become more sensitive to health, social, and humanitarian issues,” Nadhira added.
Support from FPH UI has also been an important factor in encouraging her to continue contributing both inside and outside the campus. Facing participants from various countries with diverse backgrounds certainly presented its own challenges. However, Nadhira feels prepared to meet these challenges. One of the things she has focused on is building confidence in communication. “The accuracy of grammar is not the main thing. The important point is that the message we convey must be clear and understandable,” she stated. Nadhira also emphasized the importance of having in-depth knowledge of public health conditions in Indonesia in order to engage in critical discussions and represent the country well.
Nadhira’s international experience began at the end of 2023 when she and her colleague, Nur Wahyu Rahmadiani, participated in the One Health Workforce Multimedia Contest. This contest was organized by SEAOHUN (Southeast Asia One Health University Network) in collaboration with UC Davis One Health Institute, USAID, and other global health coalitions. The competition challenged participants from Southeast Asia to present visual works highlighting the role of youth in supporting the One Health agenda.
The One Health concept focuses on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in preventing and addressing zoonotic diseases. During the competition, Nadhira was interning at USAID Global Health Security, while her colleague Ayu was contributing at INDOHUN. Together, they produced a video highlighting the role of One Health during the pandemic and the contribution of youth, particularly students, in supporting its implementation in Indonesia. “We invited several other student friends to join the video, aiming to show the collective spirit of youth in promoting One Health,” Nadhira explained. Their work earned first place in Southeast Asia, and they were invited to attend the One Health International Conference 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with travel expenses fully covered by UC Davis.
The conference also provided Nadhira and Ayu the opportunity to present a project Ayu had worked on during her time at INDOHUN. This project, in collaboration with USAID, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Fisheries and Livestock Department of Bogor Regency, and OHCC IPB University, focused on educating farmers and livestock breeders in Bogor Regency about zoonotic disease risks and implementing the One Health concept in managing their livestock. “Through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), we successfully brought together farmers, livestock owners, local government officials, and community leaders to discuss policies for zoonosis prevention,” Nadhira explained. The output of this FGD was a policy brief, which was then submitted to the local government as policy recommendations. The education provided through this project has increased the community’s understanding of zoonotic risks and preventive measures they can apply. Nadhira feels proud to have contributed to showcasing the role of Indonesia’s youth on an international stage. “I hope more Indonesian youth will be empowered and given opportunities to get involved in the One Health agenda,” she added. For her, the role of youth is essential in ensuring the sustainability of public health in the future.
In early 2024, Nadhira had another remarkable academic experience when FPH UI gave her the opportunity to participate in the Short Exchange Mobility Program at Mahidol University, Thailand. There, Nadhira gained more confidence in communicating and collaborating with students from various countries. “This program opened my eyes to the dynamics of international collaboration in public health,” Nadhira said. Faculty members also played a crucial role in her academic journey, particularly Dr. dr. Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, M.Sc., who provided full support for her extracurricular activities. “I also received a lot of feedback from Mr. Dien Anshari, Ph.D., an alumnus of the ASCEND Leadership Program 2014,” Nadhira added. Dr. Dien and Dr. Miko offered valuable motivation and advice during her preparations for the ASCEND program in the Philippines. “Moreover, the lecturers in Public Health and Epidemiology at FPH UI have greatly contributed by equipping me with the knowledge and skills that enabled me to compete with young professionals in the program,” she said.
While managing her academic and international commitments, Nadhira has developed her own time management strategies. She always checks the program timelines against her academic schedule before making decisions. Additionally, she communicates regularly with her academic advisors and professors to ensure that all her activities are well-coordinated. One of the biggest challenges was attending the ASCEND Leadership Program classes, which were held at night due to the instructors being based in the United States. To overcome this, Nadhira made sure to complete her academic work from morning to afternoon so that she could attend the classes with more focus at night. “With thorough preparation, all responsibilities can be completed well,” she said.
For Nadhira, one of the most memorable moments in her academic and career journey was when she connected with individuals from different countries and backgrounds. “Discussing health issues in other countries, understanding the problems they face, and seeing how different solutions are implemented in each context was a very valuable and rare experience,” she said. Another inspiring experience was her visit to the WHO Western Pacific Region. “I had the opportunity to sit down and discuss with Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, the Director of the WHO Western Pacific Region, and his team. It was an eye-opening experience that inspired me and ignited my passion to continue contributing to public health,” she recalled.
As a student and future professional in public health, Nadhira stresses the importance of equipping oneself with knowledge and skills relevant to the evolving challenges of global health. “Don’t be afraid to seize opportunities to develop yourself, both academically and non-academically,” she advised. Nadhira also highlighted the importance of international exposure, as public health challenges often transcend sectors and countries. “The ability to communicate, negotiate, and collaborate with people from different backgrounds is an advantage that will help us tackle public health challenges in the future,” she explained.
In addition to her international experiences, Nadhira emphasized the importance of connecting with the community. “Always try to see problems at the grassroots level directly. Listen, understand, and learn what the community really feels. Social activities such as community service and community development can be a good starting point to strengthen core competencies as public health students,” she added. Nadhira hopes that FPH UI students continue to engage in self-development, both locally and globally, while staying connected to the real-life issues faced by the community. (DFD)