Community Engagement Initiative: Healthy Living Declaration in Kricak Subdistrict, Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, 22 November 2024 — The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH), Universitas Gadjah Mada, successfully organized the Healthy Living Declaration at Segoro Amarto Field, RW 13, Kricak Subdistrict, Yogyakarta. This event marked the culmination of a series of community engagement activities that have been conducted since the previous year, aimed at strengthening health literacy and enhancing community assertiveness in accessing health services.

This community service program contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), while also supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by fostering a healthier and more resilient urban community.

The event began with a morning exercise session attended enthusiastically by dozens of local residents, followed by a communal breakfast and the distribution of door prizes in the form of plants, symbolizing a commitment to sustainable and healthy living. The activity was attended by key local stakeholders, including the Head of Tegalrejo Subdistrict Administration (Mantri Pamong Praja), the Chief of Tegalrejo Police Sector, the Commander of Tegalrejo Military District (Danramil), representatives from Tegalrejo Community Health Center (Puskesmas), officials from Kricak Subdistrict, and other members of the Forkopimtren Tegalrejo. Overall, the stakeholders expressed strong support for advancing healthy living initiatives within the Kricak community.

“We are very pleased with this initiative, because a healthy community is the foundation of societal progress,” stated the Head of Tegalrejo Subdistrict Administration.

Dr. Dra. Retna Siwi Padmawati, MA, Director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM, and Principal Investigator of the community service program, emphasized that the event was not merely ceremonial but represented a concrete step toward cultivating a sustainable culture of healthy living.

“We hope this declaration serves as the beginning of a continuous movement that inspires residents to consistently maintain their health and collective well-being,” she remarked.

The initiative received full support from the residents of Kricak Subdistrict as well as local stakeholders of Forkopimtren Tegalrejo, all of whom expressed a shared commitment to integrating healthy lifestyle practices into everyday life. The event concluded with a joint signing of the Healthy Living Declaration, led by the Head of Tegalrejo Subdistrict Administration, the Chief of the Tegalrejo Police Sector, the Commander of Danramil Tegalrejo, representatives of Tegalrejo Community Health Center, and the Head of Kricak Subdistrict.

This collaborative commitment is expected to serve as a catalyst for sustained progress through improved health literacy and community assertiveness in utilizing health services. The cross-sector collaboration demonstrated in this initiative also reinforces SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), highlighting the importance of collective action in achieving sustainable health and development outcomes.

Editor : Rafi