SDG 3 : Good Health and Well-Being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Over the past three decades, Indonesia has achieved substantial progress in its national development efforts, including in the health sector. Major health indicators reflect these improvements: the infant mortality rate declined sharply from 62 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 20 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020. Similarly, the under-five mortality rate dropped from 84 to 23 deaths per 1,000 live births over the same period. Life expectancy also increased, rising from 63 years in 1990 to 71 years in 2021, representing an average annual growth of 1.05%.1

Despite these commendable improvements, many challenges in the health sector remain. Key issues still found across Indonesia’s 17,380 islands include limited health insurance coverage and uneven access to services, persistent problems in maternal and neonatal health, and high rates of stunting among young children. Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are also prevalent, alongside increasing concerns over depression among the nation’s youth. Not to mention challenges related to poor dental and oral health outcomes and the widespread use of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.2

As a center of learning and development, UGM plays a role in education, training, and research and as a resource for and a partner in local, national, and global communities. Not only are we capable of affecting the health and wellbeing of our members and outside communities, UGM can contribute to the knowledge and empowerment in health,3 and further advance Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on good health and well-being.

Outreach Programs for Health Improvement of Indonesian Communities

UGM’s health outreach programs have been constructed to help address the pressing health issues still found in Indonesian communities. Stunting in toddlers is one such case. Education for mothers and families is crucial for optimizing child growth during the first 1,000 days of life and thus preventing stunting. In a joint initiative with the Ministry of Population and Family Development, the UGM Academic Hospital developed reproductive health programs and provided contraceptive services, stunting case audits, and training in communication and education targeted to reduce stunting and enhance family planning in the community. 

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are caused by a combination of various factors, including genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. Hypertension and diabetes are of particular concern due to their high prevalence and because they are major risk factors for heart and vascular diseases [8]. The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry organized a program in Dukuh Soge Sanden, Bantul to educate residents about healthy lifestyles, and how to manage  hypertension, diabetes, stroke prevention, stunting, obesity, and vision care. Another program by the Faculty of Medicine funded by UGM’s Integrated Community Engagement Grant also targeted local health cadres in Bantul, empowering them with knowledge to identify and address NCD risk factors and vision care.

A team of UGM health experts provided free health check-ups, emergency response education, dental health education, and lifestyle counselling for elderly citizens, their caregivers, and community health cadres from villages close to our university, namely the Sinduadi and Caturtunggal Villages.

According to the WHO, nearly half of the global population suffer from oral and dental diseases. Improving dental and oral health status in Indonesia requires appropriate measures, such as enhancing equal access to dental and oral health services and promoting oral health literacy in the community. The Faculty of Dentistry has partnered with RSAB Harapan Kita Jakarta to enhance orthodontic education, focusing on interdisciplinary clinical training for cleft lip and palate cases. This collaboration, the first between the two institutions, will be the beginning of broader interdisciplinary initiatives. Our health experts will take paediatric dentistry and social programs like cleft lip surgeries to farther regions, such as in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan. 

Fostering Global Health Networks

Through the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, UGM has become the founding member of several groundbreaking health networks that strengthen education, research, and healthcare collaboration.

UGM pioneered our very own Academic Health System. The concept of an Academic Health System (AHS) was born from the context of developing partnerships between universities and various healthcare providers focusing on research, clinical services, education, and training. 

UGM had already begun developing the AHS model in Indonesia since 2014. The AHS has now become an organization consisting of hospitals (regardless of ownership), faculties of medicine, one or more other professional health education institutions, research institutions, and forming part of a new model of integrated healthcare services. This model is committed to improving the quality of public health services through health workforce education, high-quality healthcare services, and excellent research.

The Faculty of Medicine at UGM collaborated with 3 hospitals to develop the AHS: the Dr. Sardjito Hospital, the Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro Hospital, and the S. Hardjolukito Hospital, while also establishing our very own UGM Academic Hospital to strengthen our teaching hospital network. We have also integrated with other health systems and healthcare service organizations across the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) and Central Java Province.

Besides the AHS, UGM was involved in establishing the Indonesian Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine (ICE–EBM) Network and the Inter-University Consortium on Global Health (IUCGH). Our university is also a member of the following global health networks:

• The Asian Schools in Public Health (ASPH)
• Toward Unity for Health (TUFH)
• The LINQED Educational Network
• The IDEAL Consortium
• Tropical Education (tropEd) Network for Education in International Health

Becoming A Health Promoting University

The Health Promoting University (HPU) was initiated by the ASEAN University Network Health Promotion Division (AUN-HPN). UGM, as a member of AUN, delegated representatives who contributed in drafting guidelines for developing HPU across universities in ASEAN between 2015 and 2018. Following its adoption, UGM officially became a Health Promoting University  in July 2019 to this day. 

There are seven main activities under HPU: health literacy, physical activity, healthy diet, mental health, zero tolerance for drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, zero tolerance for violence, bullying, and harassment, as well as the creation of a healthy, safe, and disability-friendly environment. UGM’s faculties have since organized HPU activities with diverse focuses, including promoting physical activity, developing posbindu (integrated health service posts), improving healthy dietary practices, preventing and managing mental health issues, preventing bullying, preventing sexual violence, and many more.

Of the multitude of issues advocated by the HPU, reproductive health is central to the achievement of multiple SDGs. Reproductive health intersects with multiple dimensions of development, not only SDG 3. It is true that universal access to sexual and reproductive health services is highlighted in SDG 3, including family planning, information, and education. But more importantly, ensuring these services will increase women participation in the workforce, thereby fostering economic growth (SDG 8). It is also directly connected to SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 11 on sustainable cities, and communities and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.4

Information and resources on reproductive health is accessible through UGM’s Health Promoting University webpage. The HPU also develops materials for UGM’s online courses (Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)) which can be accessed through https://mooc.ugm.ac.id/. Among the courses offered is a course on Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Exemplary Health Care Support

Medical facilities are crucial for the good health and well-being of the UGM campus community, providing access to essential services like prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The following table is a directory of medical facilities available at our university: 

Directory of medical facilities and services for students and faculty

Concern is rising for the young people of Indonesia, among whom the highest prevalence of depression is found. According to the Indonesia Health Survey 2023, 2% of Generation Z aged 15-24 years old experience depression, and yet this age group has the least access to treatment (just 10.4%). This matter is equally concerning for the working population, as mental health challenges such as stress, burnout, and anxiety are increasingly reported in professional settings, often with limited support systems available. UGM understands the unique challenges faced by its students, staff, and faculty, and thus provides confidential mental health treatment for all.

Directory of mental health facilities and services for students and faculty

The availability of sports and recreation facilities can enhance student well-being and their university experience. Access to such facilities not only supports physical health but also provides opportunities for relaxation and stress relief.

Campus sports and recreation facilities

UGM’s Smoke-Free Policy

Smoking exposes the human body to thousands of harmful chemicals, many of which are toxic and can lead to cancer, respiratory issues, and cardiovascular diseases. These health risks are also faced by non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. UGM’s smoke-free areas are essential to reducing the prevalence of smoking and its associated risks, and to foster a healthier campus environment for everyone. Ultimately, improved air quality means a safe and pleasant atmosphere that enhances the overall campus experience. The smoking-free areas are specified in Rector’s Regulation Number 29/P/SK/HT/2008. 

When a person decides to quit smoking, the decision initiates a natural detoxification process in which the body begins to eliminate these substances and repair the damage. Positive effects can be observed within days or weeks. In the long term, quitting smoking markedly decreases the risk of smoking-related illnesses.5 Though there are many individuals who attempt to quit smoking alone, this strategy is often difficult to sustain and frequently results in relapse. Quitting smoking is easier when individuals access appropriate support systems. That is why the Center for Behavioral and Health Promotion at the Faculty of Medicine and the Gadjah Mada Medical Center provides a support program for UGM students, staff, and faculty who wish to quit smoking.