The 'Toilet Doctor's' Trail: Restoring Dignity Through Sanitation

In many corners of Indonesia, sanitation remains a bitter reality overshadowing community life, particularly in areas frequently hit by tidal flooding, settlements built over water, and regions with extreme geographical conditions. In these places, the presence of a healthy toilet is not merely a physical facility, but a gateway to a more dignified and healthy life.

Arising from this concern, a major movement was born from academic synergy. Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) has officially partnered with its alumnus, Dr. dr. Budi Laksono, M.HSc., a figure widely known as the ‘Toilet Doctor’, to broaden the reach of sanitation innovation across the entire archipelago.

This commitment to strengthening public health was affirmed during an audience between Dr. Budi Laksono and UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., at the Widya Puraya Building, UNDIP Tembalang Campus, on Wednesday (10/6/2026). Dr. Budi, an alumnus of the UNDIP Faculty of Medicine class of 1982, carries a major mission to resolve the problem of open defecation through appropriate technology.

Rector Suharnomo expressed appreciation for Dr. Budi’s extraordinary dedication. According to Prof. Suharnomo, the innovations developed are not merely academic theories, but tangible solutions that directly touch the root of problems within society.

Dr. Budi Laksono is renowned for his success in creating sanitation solutions in difficult areas that have long been neglected. To date, through collaboration with the Indonesian Army and various strategic partners, Dr. Budi has contributed to the construction of more than one million healthy toilets. This movement has provided direct benefits to millions of Indonesian citizens in improving their quality of life.

UNDIP had previously successfully adopted the ‘Flying Toilet’ innovation in Tugu Village, Sayung District, Demak Regency—an area regularly inundated by tidal floods. Moving forward, through the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), this programme will be massively expanded.

This collective effort is expected not only to meet national targets for adequate sanitation access but also to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indonesia, particularly regarding health and well-being, as well as access to clean water and sanitation.