Mataram, the University of Mataram– Syiah Kuala University and Griffith University, Australia collaborates with the University of Mataram (Unram), the Pattimura University, Ambon, the Ministry of Health, the ICLEI Indonesia, the CARI, the International Network of Health Promotes the Hospitals & Health Services in conducting the CORE-STEP Project which is funded by the Australian Government through the CONNECTION Grant.

After being launched in Ambon City on 25th of September 2023, the Project with the title “CORE-STEP: Innovative Knowledge-Based Solutions for a Primary Health Care System that is Inclusive and Ready to Face Climate Change” was continued in Mataram starting with the Project Launch activity which was held in Auditorium Dr. Yunita Sabrina, Faculty of Medicine, Unram on 2nd of October 2023.

This activity was opened by Dr. Rina Suryani Oktari, S.Kep., M.Si as Indonesian Project Coordinator. In her remarks, she said that this project has 2 main objectives, namely examining the vulnerability, the capacity and the needs of PUSKESMAS in facing the impacts of climate change, as well as developing a dashboard which is expected to help PUSKESMAS in making the necessary decisions.

“Currently, this research is a pilot that will last for the next 1 year. This research was conducted in 3 cities in Indonesia, previously a series of activities were held in Ambon, currently in Mataram, and then continued in Banda Aceh. “The hope is that after this project, the Syiah Kuala University and the University of Mataram will continue to collaborate in various fields,” said Dr. Rina.

Apart from the Indonesian Project Coordinator, Dr. Connie Cai Ru Gan, who comes from Griffith University and is also the Australian Project Coordinator, also expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and natural beauty of Mataram that she is currently experiencing. She also expressed his condolences for the floods that had just occurred in Libya.

“Climate change is no longer just about theory today, but we feel its real impacts. “The floods that occurred in Libya, and even the drought conditions that Mataram is currently facing are proof that the effects of climate change are real,” he explained.

At this Project , the Head of the NTB Provincial Health Service, represented by the Head of Health Services, Nina Yulaida, S.K.M., M.Kes, also said, “Regarding this research, we are very happy to be able to collaborate. We hope that this research will not only be carried out for PUSKESMAS, but also networks such as clinics and independent doctor’s practices. “It is hoped that the data held by this network can be sent to PUSKESMAS as a data collection center which can then be brought to workshops to discuss how the problems faced so far can be resolved.”

The success of this event cannot be separated from the good reception from Unram which was coordinated by Dr. Wahyu Sulistya Affarah, Dr. Dr. Ultimate Yoga, and Dr. Eko Pradjoko. The launch of this project was attended by 70 participants from the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government, Mataram City Government, Heads and Staff of Community Health Centers, NGOs, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Unram, Academics, Community Representatives, and students.

This research was officially opened by the Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation and Information Systems, namely Prof. Akmaluddin, S.T., M. Sc.(Eng)., Ph.D, through the beating of the Digital Gong together with the Heads of the Indonesian and Australian Research Teams, as well as VIP guests who previously also delivered opening remarks.

“Of course, from this morning’s activities, we are very grateful for your cooperation. Of course we really hope that this activity will be held by all the academic community at University of Mataram, how activities will no longer be carried out individually, but we can join hands and carry out activities together. “This collaborative activity is expected to have an impact on the University of Mataram and the Syiah Kuala University as part of assessing performance indicators for our respective universities,” said Prof. Akmaluddin.

The activity ended with a photo with the VIP guests and the presentation of souvenirs by Dr. Rina Suryani Oktari to the University of Mataram, as well as a dance performance from the UKF Faculty of Medicine.

This Core-Step Project will last for one year until July 2024. The activities will be carried out in two countries, namely Indonesia (Ambon, Mataram and Banda Aceh) and in Australia, specifically in the Queensland region