Kupang, NTT – From 30 June to 4 July 2025, three fellows of the International Health program under the Implementation Science Leadership Fellowship Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) Universitas Gadjah Mada embarked on an intensive field visit to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. The fellows such as Rhondemo A. Kikon from India, Dina Arisonaningtyas from Indonesia, and Monjurul Karim from Bangladesh joined forces with the local Wolbachia Project team from Yayasan Pengendalian Keganasan Tular (PKT) and representatives from the District Health Office to observe and participate in the operational rollout of a large-scale Wolbachia mosquito control program. This week-long engagement was designed to immerse the fellows in the realities of implementing public health innovations beyond the pilot stage. Each day began with collecting Aedes aegypti mosquito eggs from strategic trap sites. These eggs, collected from pre-positioned ovitraps, are a critical component of ongoing entomological surveillance, enabling the program to monitor Wolbachia establishment in mosquito populations. In parallel, the fellows assisted in placing new “Wolbachia buckets” containers designed to release Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into designated community locations.
Beyond the technical aspects, the fellows also gained insight into the importance of community engagement, as they witnessed firsthand how local field staff communicated with residents, addressed questions, and built trust. The Kupang community’s cooperation, nurtured through months of outreach and dialogue, proved essential to ensuring smooth access to trap sites and the acceptance of Wolbachia technology. The fellows’ itinerary also included meetings with key figures at the District Health Office. These sessions provided an overview of the policy, coordination, and monitoring frameworks that support the program’s expansion. The discussions touched on the challenges of maintaining logistical efficiency in geographically dispersed locations, strategies for mobilizing cross-sector partnerships, and mechanisms for integrating vector control programs into broader public health agendas.
According to the fellows, the experience was eye-opening in multiple ways. For Rhondemo A. Kikon, the visit highlighted the adaptability of vector control interventions to diverse cultural contexts. Dina Arisonaningtyas reflected on the significance of sustained stakeholder engagement, noting that “scientific success alone is not enough the community must feel ownership of the program.” Meanwhile, Monjurul Karim emphasized the importance of integrating field realities into program design, remarking that “policies need to be flexible enough to accommodate on-the-ground challenges without compromising scientific rigor.” By situating fellows in real-world operational environments, the program nurtures a holistic understanding of international health one that bridges research, policy, and implementation.
The Wolbachia initiative in Kupang is part of a growing global effort to control dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases through innovative, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approaches. Its success in scaling up from pilot projects to city-wide operations illustrates the power of integrating research evidence with local governance and grassroots participation. In the broader context, this activity contributes directly to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Most notably, it advances Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases, and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through its model of multi-sectoral and cross-border collaboration. By fostering knowledge exchange among fellows from different countries and involving local authorities and communities, the program embodies the spirit of global solidarity in addressing shared health challenges.
Through this visit, the Implementation Science Leadership fellows not only enhanced their technical and analytical skills but also strengthened their appreciation for the complex interplay between science, society, and sustainability. As the fight against mosquito-borne diseases continues, such collaborative and hands-on learning experiences will be vital in preparing the next generation of public health leaders to drive meaningful and lasting change.
Writer: Fikri Wahiddinsyah
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