Peradeniya, Sri Lanka – The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), has expanded its implementation of the university's tridharma at the international level through a Community Service program held at Seevali School, Hindagala, Peradeniya, located within Doluwa Mahavidyalaya, on 21 July 2026.
The program featured Prof. Dr. dr. Dina Keumala Sari, M.Gizi, Sp.GK, Subsp.PK, from the Clinical Nutrition Study Program, FK USU, and dr. Yetty Machrina from the Department of Physiology, FK USU, as resource speakers. The activity was organized by the Department of Education, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, with Prof. K.S.H.M.V.W. Walter Senevirathne serving as the facilitator.
Through this outreach initiative, FK USU delivered two key health messages to students: the importance of adequate nutrition to support healthy growth and development, and the practice of proper handwashing as a simple yet effective measure to prevent infectious diseases.
In her presentation, “Nutrition for Optimizing Growth and Development,” Prof. Dina explained the relationship between daily food consumption and children's physical growth, cognitive development, bone health, and immune function. Students were introduced to essential nutrients, including protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C, along with their primary food sources. The session also emphasized the importance of consuming a balanced and diverse diet to ensure optimal growth and development.
The health education continued with dr. Yetty Machrina, who delivered a session titled “Wash Your Hands, Stay Healthy, Prevent Infections.” She explained that unclean hands can serve as a medium for transmitting germs, increasing the risk of illnesses such as influenza, diarrhea, skin infections, and other communicable diseases. She also highlighted key moments for handwashing, including before eating, after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, after playing outdoors, and after touching animals. Students were introduced to the proper handwashing technique using soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
By delivering health education simply and engagingly, FK USU seeks to encourage healthy lifestyle habits from an early age. This initiative aligns with the Faculty's contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by improving children's health literacy. The collaboration with the University of Peradeniya also reflects the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), demonstrating meaningful cooperation between higher education institutions that extends beyond institutional partnerships to deliver tangible benefits to the community.
This program reflects FK USU's ongoing commitment to strengthening international collaboration while applying its expertise in medicine and health sciences to address community needs across diverse settings.