Students from Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya Assist with Sanitation in Banyuwangi

Dozens of students from the Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Surabaya will identify and assist in addressing various public health issues in the fields of sanitation, clean water, and the environment in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java.

Eighty-two sixth-semester students from the Diploma Three Sanitation programme in the Environmental Health Department at Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya are supporting public health through the Community Work Practice (PKK) activity in Banyuwangi from 6 to 25 April 2026, lasting 20 days.

“Thank you to Poltekkes Kemenkes for conducting the PKK activity here; we hope the presence of these students can contribute to addressing some of the various health issues in Banyuwangi,” said Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani at the Regency Pendopo on Monday.

On that occasion, she also reminded the students that field practice differs from theory learned in the classroom.

She stated that the Sanitation programme pursued by the students is greatly needed by the community. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), 6.78 per cent of households still lack access to safe drinking water, and only 10.30 per cent have access to safe sanitation.

“This is a shared challenge. We hope the students can help improve achievements in sanitation, clean water, and environmental health, especially in Banyuwangi,” said Ipuk.

Meanwhile, the Director of Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Luthfi Rusyadi, explained that this year’s Community Work Practice is being carried out in two sub-districts with three puskesmas as activity locations, namely Wonosobo Puskesmas and Srono Puskesmas, as well as Tembokrejo Puskesmas in Muncar Sub-district.

“This year we are sending 82 D3 students; God willing, next year we will add applied bachelor’s students, around 170 students, and possibly expand to several sub-districts, so the benefits will be greater for the Banyuwangi community,” said Luthfi Rusyadi.