LOTU, NORTH NIAS – HUMAS USU: The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), in collaboration with RSUD Tafaeri and the North Nias Regency Health Office, carried out a community service program at RSUD Tafaeri, Lolofaoso Village, Lotu District, North Nias Regency, on Monday (March 2, 2025).

The community service provided by FK USU lecturers covered antenatal care and ultrasonography (USG) for pregnant women, gallstone screening, hemoglobin (Hb) and random blood glucose (RBG) testing, as well as emergency training for healthcare workers at RSUD Tafaeri. The program received enthusiastic participation from the community, with service areas fully occupied and even extending into the hospital corridors.

This implementation of one of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education was led by the Vice Dean III of FK USU, dr. Inke Nadia Diniyanti Lubis, PGDip PID FAAET, M.Ked (Ped), Sp.A, Ph.D, and included the Dean’s Expert Staff of FK USU, Dr. rer. medic. dr. M. Ichwan, M.Sc, Sp.KKLP, Subsp. FOMC; Head of the Internal Medicine Specialist Program, Dr. dr. Taufik Sungkar, M.Ked (PD), Sp.PD, Subsp. GEH (K); Head of the Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Program, dr. Andriamuri Primaputra Lubis, M.Ked (An), SpAn-TI, Subsp. TI (K); Head of the Clinical Pathology Program, dr. Nindia Sugih Arto, M.Ked (Clin.Path), Sp.P.K., Subsp. N.R. (K); Secretary of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Program, dr. Iman Helmi Effendi, M.Ked (OG), Sp.OG (K); Secretary of the Clinical Pathology Program, dr. Malayana Rahmita Nasution, M.Ked (Clin.Path), Sp.P.K., Subsp. H.K. (K); along with resident doctors and educational staff of USU.

The activities ran from morning until late afternoon, serving 23 patients in obstetrics and gynecology, 114 patients in internal medicine, and 80 patients in clinical pathology. In the internal medicine clinic, common complaints included diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyspepsia, hypercholesterolemia, osteoarthritis, respiratory tract diseases, cholelithiasis (gallstones), nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), hyperthyroidism, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Before the clinical services began, Dr. dr. Taufik Sungkar provided public education on recognizing the symptoms of gallstones and preventing complications. According to Dr. Taufik, the community showed strong enthusiasm during the educational session, as evidenced by the numerous questions raised about gallstone disease.

“When residents learned that RSUD Tafaeri now has an internal medicine specialist, they were very happy and felt greatly assisted in seeking treatment. Previously, access to an internal medicine specialist was limited, as services were available only once a week,” he explained. He expressed hope that through the education provided, residents would better understand the causes, symptoms, and early preventive measures related to gallstone disease.

The community service program also included emergency response training for healthcare workers at RSUD Tafaeri, attended by nurses and general practitioners from the regional hospital and community health centers across North Nias. The training, mentored by dr. Andriamuri Primaputra Lubis, M.Ked (An), SpAn-TI, Subsp. TI (K), covered Early Warning Score (EWS) and Basic Life Support (BLS), aiming to enhance patient survival services and anticipate clinical deterioration.

Meanwhile, dr. Inke Nadia Diniyanti Lubis, as head of the program, stated that the purpose of this community service initiative was to inform the people of North Nias that healthcare services at RSUD Tafaeri are no longer limited to pediatric specialists but are now supported by FK USU specialists in internal medicine, anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and clinical pathology.

“We not only directly provide healthcare services but also promote the hospital so that RSUD Tafaeri’s operations can continue with increasing public interest,” she emphasized.

She also encouraged all FK USU resident doctors assigned to the hospital to continue engaging in capacity building activities, including community service initiatives. “They must be able to train healthcare workers both at the regional hospital and at community health centers, so their skills continue to improve and they can provide better quality services for the community,” she added.

The FK USU resident doctors currently assigned to North Nias Regency are dr. Trinidia Lubis, dr. Robby Pandaibesi, dr. Ricky Bonatio Hutagalung, dr. Devinda Villarsi, dr. Edgar Anthony Petra Sihite, and dr. Margareth Duma Sari Sirait. (RJ)