Universitas Indonesia (UI) together with the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Service (Dinkes) inaugurated a clean water source and dishwashing area at the Taman Arsa and Taman Sakura culinary centers, Untung Jawa Island, Seribu Islands Regency. The inauguration was held on Tuesday (12/12) attended by representatives from the Seribu Islands Health Sub-dept., Seribu Islands Water Resources Sub-dept., Untung Jaya Health Center, and Untung Jawa Subdistrict.
This activity is UI’s contribution to the community service program. The UI service team for this activity consisted of lecturers, students, and alumni from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) of the UI Faculty of Public Health (FKM), chaired by Prof. Indri Hapsari Susilowati, together with Asmida Mariani and Bonardo Prayogo Hasiholan (both Masters students) and Nurrachmat Satria (S1 K3 alumni). This program received funding from the UI Community Service and Empowerment Grant as well as collaborators from the regional government and the people of Untung Jawa Island.
According to Prof. Indri, the construction of clean water sources and dishwashing areas is an effort to address health problems in the culinary center of Untung Jawa Island. This is done to reduce the risk of people getting diseases such as diarrhea. Previously, in 2022, Prof. Indri and her team initiated the establishment of an Occupational Health Effort Post (Pos UKK) on Untung Jawa Island. While operating the UKK Post, the UI Community Service Team discovered occupational health problems among culinary center workers.
“The issue of clean water availability was one that was discussed in deliberations with culinary center traders gathered at the Taman Arsa and Taman Sakura UKK Posts. They realize that clean water is important not only for center workers, but also for tourists who come,” said Prof. Indri
Culinary center traders in Taman Arsa and Taman Sakura only use rain-fed water or take it from local wells as a source of clean water. To wash dishes, they don’t have a sink with running water. With supervision from the UI Community Service Team, the UKK Post and local health centers coordinate with the relevant sub-departments, namely the DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office, Seribu Islands Health Sub-department, Untung Jawa Island Subdistrict, and Untung Java Island Water Resources Sub-department to speed up the procurement of clean water resources.
It is hoped that the inauguration of the clean water facilities will further activate and empower the UKK Post on Untung Jawa Island in responding to health challenges, especially those related to occupational health. A clean environment will certainly attract tourists to visit Untung Jawa Island, so that the local community can improve their quality of life, both in terms of health, productivity and economy.
The Head of Untung Jawa Island Village, Sidartawan, expressed his gratitude to UI and all related parties who had helped traders build a dishwasher at the Untung Jawa Island culinary center. “Before this dishwasher existed, fellow traders cleaned fish and washed dishes carelessly and it looked dirty. With this place, the culinary center on Untung Jawa Island looks cleaner, more beautiful and neatly arranged,” said Sidartawan.
Meanwhile, a trader at the Taman Arsa culinary center, Rohyama, was very happy with the dishwasher. “My fellow traders and I will use and maintain this dishwasher well. Thank God, there has been collaboration between UI, sub-districts and the SDA Health Service so that the cleanliness of this place can be better maintained. Tourists who visit also become more comfortable with a clean environment,” he said.
Apart from the inauguration of clean water sources and dish washing areas, on that occasion, local health officials and officials also distributed MSME Kits to traders in Taman Arsa. The MSME kit contains an apron, headgear, mask, cooking gloves, and boots to use when cleaning the dishwashing area.
