DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - The Deli Serdang Regency Government is strengthening opportunities for cooperation with the Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Sumatera Utara (FKG USU) to improve dental health among the community. The cooperation will cover the development of foster villages, community empowerment, dental health research, and clinical training programs for dental students in Deli Serdang.
Deli Serdang Regent dr H Asri Ludin Tambunan expressed his support for the planned cooperation when he received FKG USU Dean drg. Gema Nazri Yanti and her delegation for a meeting in Deli Serdang on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed various forms of cooperation that could provide direct benefits to the community. One of them is FKG USU's plan to revive its previous foster village program in Sukamaju Village, Sunggal District.
FKG USU also plans to relocate clinical training activities for dental students to Deli Serdang Regency. The program is expected not only to become part of the students' practical training but also to expand public access to dental care and health education.
Advancing Community Dental Health Research
Asri Ludin welcomed the plan and expressed hope that the foster village program could serve as a platform for collecting direct data on the community's dental health conditions. The data could then be used by the Deli Serdang Regency Government as a basis for developing appropriate measures in line with community needs.
"We hope that small-scale examinations of the community's dental health can be conducted in the village so that the regional government can receive feedback and, at the same time, take appropriate measures," he said.
According to Asri Ludin, cooperation between the regional government and the university can strengthen efforts to address health problems based on scientific evidence. The regional government can use research findings as a reference for planning public health programs.
During the meeting, the regent also asked the relevant authorities to follow up on research involving crackers made from krill, which have potential as a preventive measure against dental caries.
He said the research findings could be further developed if studies involving the community produced positive results. The product could potentially be developed into an alternative snack for schoolchildren.
"If the research has already been conducted, including directly involving the community, we will develop it further. It is possible that the product could later also be recommended to school meal kitchens as a snack for schoolchildren," Asri Ludin said.
The planned development process demonstrates that dental health research is not intended to remain limited to the academic sphere. Instead, the Deli Serdang Regency Government is opening opportunities to transform research findings into concrete programs that can provide broader benefits to the community.
FOSTER VILLAGE PROGRAM TO BE REVIVED: FKG USU Dean drg. Gema Nazri Yanti explains the plan to revive the foster village program and develop research on krill as part of efforts to prevent dental caries. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
FKG USU Prepares Foster Village and Clinical Training
FKG USU Dean drg. Gema Nazri Yanti explained that FKG USU had previously established cooperation with the Health Office and Haji Amri Tambunan Regional Hospital. The cooperation provides one of the foundations for further strengthening collaboration with the Deli Serdang Regency Government.
In addition to reviving the foster village program, FKG USU also plans to conduct clinical training activities in Deli Serdang. The presence of students in the communities is expected to strengthen health education efforts while providing them with practical experience in addressing dental health issues.
On the occasion, Gema also presented the results of a study conducted in Bagan Serdang, Pantai Labu District. The study examined the processing of krill into crackers and their potential connection with efforts to prevent dental caries.
The research findings also open opportunities for broader cooperation because their development involves more than health-related aspects. With appropriate support, krill-based products could also be developed into products that empower local communities.
"This research has received recognition from the Government of Sumatera Utara Province. Therefore, we also hope to collaborate with the Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK), the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Office, as well as the Industry and Trade Office, so that its implementation among the community can continue," Gema said.
Cross-sector cooperation is expected to connect university research findings with community needs. FKG USU can strengthen the research and dental health components, while the regional government and relevant agencies can support community empowerment, product development, and wider utilization.
RESEARCH FINDINGS DEVELOPMENT INTO UMKM PRODUCTS: Chairwoman of the Deli Serdang Regency TP PKK Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan expresses her support for developing research findings into UMKM products and using them to promote healthy snack alternatives. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
TP PKK Supports Development of UMKM Products
Chairwoman of the Deli Serdang Regency TP PKK Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan also welcomed the planned development of the research findings. She sees the krill crackers as having potential not only for health purposes but also for strengthening the community's economy.
According to Jelita, the research findings could be developed into UMKM products while also being used to promote healthy snack alternatives to the public, particularly children.
"If the activity involves strengthening UMKM, especially through the PKK, we will fully support it. Not only in Bagan Serdang and Pantai Labu, but also in other villages. At the same time, the products can be further developed and their marketing improved through the relevant agencies," she said.
The support creates an opportunity for the foster program to expand beyond Bagan Serdang Village and Pantai Labu District. The Deli Serdang Regency Government can extend the mentoring model to other villages according to the potential and needs of each area.
Jelita also emphasized the importance of continuing the training previously provided to mothers in Bagan Serdang. In her view, continuous assistance from the relevant agencies is needed to develop community skills and create a positive impact on household incomes.
She expressed hope that the training could resume with support from the relevant agencies. Through continuous mentoring, residents are expected not only to gain knowledge about product processing but also to improve product quality, increase market value, and reach new markets.
The strengthened cooperation between the Deli Serdang Regency Government and FKG USU therefore covers several interconnected areas, ranging from dental health research, foster village development, and clinical training for students to community economic empowerment.
The cooperation also brings together the roles of various stakeholders, including the university, regional government, TP PKK, and agencies responsible for health, cooperatives and small and medium enterprises, as well as trade. The Deli Serdang Regency Government hopes that this synergy can produce programs based not only on research but also on concrete benefits for the community.
The development of the foster village program and the utilization of research findings on krill demonstrate how cooperation between educational institutions and regional governments can be oriented toward community needs while creating opportunities for economic empowerment based on local potential. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala