Semarang (12/09), The development of infectious diseases in Indonesia is increasingly showing a significant upward trend. Zoonotic diseases or infectious diseases caused by animals to humans are currently a crucial public health problem. The unavoidable interaction between humans, animals and mosquito vectors is one of the causes of the widespread occurrence of zoonotic diseases in various regions of the world, including Indonesia. In addition, deforestation or deforestation and climate change also affect the process of “jumping” disease-causing pathogens to new hosts, including humans. The life of rural people who are very close to animals makes the incidence of zoonotic diseases requiring special attention. In addition, inadequate access to health puts rural communities at great risk. Therefore, a scientific study is needed in conducting early detection of zoonotic disease events or cases.
Becoming a superior university in research and technology is the goal and dream of Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) which encourages each faculty to develop cooperation with various international institutions. As one of the Faculties of Public Health in Indonesia, Faculty of Public Health Universitas Diponegoro is developing collaborations with various global and reputable institutions covering staff exchanges, student exchanges, collaboration in curriculum development, organizing seminars/workshops/scientific discussions and also developing global standard laboratory. To realize this plan, Faculty of Public Health UNDIP wants to initiate a collaboration with the School of Medicine University of St Andrews, UK where this activity will bring in experts who are experts in the field of zoonoses.
Precisely in the Smart Classroom Faculty of Public Health UNDIP, this collaboration initiation activity was carried out by listening to the explanation of an expert in the field of zoonoses, namely Dr. Janet Cox-Singh (Division of Infection and Global Health, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, UK) and Dr. Cyrus J. Daneshvar (University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, UK and School of Medicine University of St Andrews, UK) while from Faculty of Public Health UNDIP Dr. Budiyono, S.KM., M.Kes. (Dean of Faculty of Public Health UNDIP) and Dr. Ir. Martini, M.Kes. (Head of Education Laboratory Faculty of Public Health UNDIP). One of the points of collaboration that will be carried out at the end of the discussion is the discussion of the draft collaboration led by Dr. Bagoes Widjanarko, M.PH. as Head of Doctor of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health UNDIP program is an adjunct professor activity.