UNAIR NEWS The Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health 51 (), held a guest lecture on Water Sanitation in Disaster Management. The event featured Prof. Ts. Dr. Shamsul Bahari Bin Shamsudin from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, who joined virtually via Zoom to an audience of more than one hundred students across different cohorts.
Role of WASH in disaster management
Prof. Bahari introduced the concept of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), stressing its importance throughout all phases of disaster management, from prevention to recovery. Safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene practices, he said, are essential to community survival.
Clean water is not just a technical issueit is a matter of saving lives. Without proper management, the risk of infectious disease rises sharply, he emphasized.
He also discussed challenges facing tropical regions, such as floods, wildfires, haze, and damaged sanitation infrastructure. To address these issues, he underscored the need for continuous public education rather than short-term programsan approach he noted is especially relevant for disaster-prone Indonesia.
Interactive dialogue with students
The discussion session was highly interactive. Fajrinia Putri Rudiansysah, an Environmental Health student, asked how Malaysian communities sustain clean water systems once support from government or NGOs ends.
Prof. Bahari pointed to the role of universities. More than 20 universities are actively engaged in fieldwork. Education must be continuous so communities stay prepared, he explained.
He also highlighted Malaysias National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), which operates under the Prime Ministers leadership. This, he said, ensures quick and effective decision-making, including the enforcement of standards for household water tanks and toilets.
Another student, Raissyah, asked about distributing safe water. Prof. Bahari explained that Malaysia uses both open sources, such as rivers and wells, and official supplies through water tanks and depots. The greatest challenge, he noted, is maintaining water quality, particularly in remote areas with limited access.
Closing session
In closing, Prof. Bahari emphasized that water sanitation is both a basic right and a collective responsibility. This planet belongs to all of us, and it is our duty to protect it. Clean water is not only about healthit is also about human dignity, he said.
UNAIRs Faculty of Public Health hopes the lecture deepened students understanding of sanitation literacy and disaster management. The event aimed to prepare them for global challenges while encouraging innovative, science-driven solutions.
Author: Dara Devinta Faradhilla
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
