On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, the Public Health Study Program of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (Kesmas UMS Study Program) proudly received a visit and held a Public Lecture with the theme “Primary Health Services: Lessons Learned from Thailand in Improving Public Health”. This event is a collaboration with Sirindhorn College of Public Health Thailand, which presents guest lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phanuwat Sriyotha from Sirindhorn College of Public Health.

This public lecture will be a valuable opportunity for students, lecturers, and health practitioners to deepen their understanding of the innovative strategies implemented in Thailand in the field of primary health care. Thailand is known as one of the countries that has succeeded in building a strong and sustainable primary health care system, which has proven effective in improving public health.

Speakers from Sirindhorn College of Public Health Thailand will share experiences and best practices that have been implemented in their country, ranging from preventive health approaches, community empowerment, to the important role of technology in improving access and quality of primary health services. It is hoped that the lessons learned from Thailand can be an inspiration and reference for strengthening the primary health system in Indonesia, especially in improving the welfare and health of the community as a whole.

During this visit, the delegation from Sirindhorn College of Public Health Thailand had the opportunity to see firsthand the various facilities and laboratories owned by the UMS Public Health Study Program. The laboratories visited include the Work Policy Administration Laboratory, the Occupational Safety and Health (K3) Laboratory, the Audio Visual Laboratory, the Waste Processing Laboratory, and the Epidemiology Laboratory.

Each laboratory has an important role in supporting teaching and learning activities at the UMS Public Health Study Program. The Work Policy Administration Laboratory helps students understand the ins and outs of making effective health policies. The K3 Laboratory is used to study aspects of safety and health in the workplace. The Audio Visual Laboratory is a facility for creative health education and counseling, while the Waste Processing Laboratory provides students with direct experience in managing environmentally friendly waste. Finally, the Epidemiology Laboratory focuses on disease analysis and monitoring to support efforts to prevent and handle outbreaks in the community. This visit is expected to open up opportunities for further collaboration between the two institutions in the field of research and development of public health programs, as well as provide new insights for both parties in improving the quality of education and health services.