The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKIK) Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) hosted another International Dental Summer School (IDSS). The 2019 iteration of IDSS is the 10th annual summer school activity, which started in 2009 to strengthen cooperation among international dental education students in handling oral health problems, especially among Indonesians.

drg. Laelia Dwi Anggraini, Sp.KGA, a lecturer of UMY’s dental education department, stated that the participants of this IDSS, consisting of 20 dental education students from 10 countries, were educated on how to handle the oral health of Special Needs Children (ABK). In addition, they were also informed about the public health system and dental care education in Indonesia.

“When it comes to oral hygiene, children with special needs should not be differentiated from those who do not have them. In fact, we need to know how to handle those children, because they cannot open their mouths for too long,” Laelia stated during her turn as a speaker in the IDSS educational program session when contacted by UMY’s Office of Human Relations and Protocol on Friday (9/8).

The event took place in Asri Medical Center UMY on Monday (29/7) and had two main activities, namely the educational program and social program. The educational program consists of lecturers, lab sessions, and a discussion session and visit by drg. Laelia, who hosted a discussion regarding the health needs of ABK and Pediatric Special Needs. Meanwhile, the social program of IDSS is different every year, with this year’s events consisting of traditional dance sessions and guide to creating Batik, aimed to introduce Indonesian culture to foreign students. (ads)