Field Deployment Preparation Series 2: UNUD MPH Students Gear Up for Pamekasan Outbreak Investigation

• By Admin
• Rabu, 10 September 2025

As the deployment date for the Master of Public Health (MPH) students to Pamekasan approaches, a second pre-deployment briefing was conducted via Zoom on 8 September 2025 to ensure thorough preparation. During this session, valuable field experience and technical insights were shared by FETP students from Universitas Airlangga (Unair) who had recently completed a two-week assignment in Sumenep District.

The discussion covered practical challenges commonly encountered during fieldwork, including duplicate data entry, limited availability of investigation forms, restrictions in epidemiological investigations for fatal cases, daily reporting procedures, and other operational issues. Additional guidance was provided by the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) on detailed technical aspects of daily field investigation reporting. Input was also contributed by FETP coordinators from Universitas Indonesia (UI), Unair, Pamekasan District Health Office, and the East Java Provincial Health Office, providing a comprehensive perspective for the UNUD team.

This information proved highly valuable for UNUD MPH students Jana Darmika and Erik Hendrawan, enabling them to better anticipate and manage fieldwork challenges. During the deployment, the UNUD team will work alongside FETP UI, fostering collaboration and adaptive problem-solving skills. Being directly immersed in the field, interacting with officials, technical staff, field teams, and communities, students are expected to develop competencies in conducting investigations, preparing daily and final reports, and managing tasks efficiently within tight timelines.

This second series of pre-deployment preparation not only strengthens the students’ technical and professional skills but also aligns with the MPH program’s vision to produce competent public health professionals capable of responding effectively to outbreaks. The structured briefing enhances the program’s curriculum relevance, supports accreditation standards by documenting hands-on learning processes, and contributes to societal needs by ensuring graduates are well-prepared for field-based epidemiology and outbreak management.