MAKASSAR – The Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University (FKM Unhas), continues to strengthen its role as an academic institution that contributes significantly to humanitarian-based regional development. In its latest strategic move, FKM Unhas has partnered with the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of North Toraja Regency to draft an Initiative Regional Regulation (Ranperda) concerning the Protection and Fulfillment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The meeting, held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Prof. Dr. Nur Nasry Noor, MPH Room, FKM Unhas Campus, Tamalanrea, marks a vital momentum for strengthening the rights of diffable groups in North Toraja. Through academic assistance, this regulation is expected to be more than just a legal document—it aims to be a tangible instrument for creating a fair and equal social order for all citizens without exception.
Academic Commitment to Equitable Policy
The Dean of FKM Unhas, Prof. Sukri Palutturi, SKM, M.Kes., MSc.PH, PhD, who personally led the meeting, emphasized that universities have a moral responsibility to oversee public policies to ensure they side with vulnerable groups. In his remarks, Prof. Sukri expressed FKM Unhas’s full commitment to providing academic expertise to compile a comprehensive and implementable Academic Paper.
“Formulating this Draft Regional Regulation is a major leap for North Toraja. We at FKM Unhas are ready to deploy our experts to ensure this regulation meets public health and human rights standards. We want to ensure that our brothers and sisters with disabilities in North Toraja receive strong legal protection and 100 percent equal access to services,” stated Prof. Sukri.
Also present at the meeting were the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Wahiduddin, SKM, M.Kes, and the Head of the Quality Assurance and Reputation Enhancement Cluster, Prof. dr. Hasanuddin Ishak, MSc. The presence of the top leadership highlights FKM Unhas’s seriousness in responding to legislative initiatives that directly impact community welfare.
Strategic Focus: Mental Health and Public Facility Accessibility
The discussion between academics and legislators narrowed down to several crucial points often overlooked in regional policies. A primary focus is the management of Persons with Mental Disorders (ODGJ) and strengthening the family’s role within the disability support system.
The North Toraja DPRD emphasized that this regulation must address the root causes on the ground, where persons with disabilities often face double barriers: social stigma and infrastructure limitations. Therefore, this draft is designed to ensure that every government building, public space, and transportation service in the future must be built with universal accessibility standards.
Aligning with this vision, the Head of the North Toraja Health Office, who also participated in the coordination, pushed for the regulation to provide a firm mandate for the development of disability-friendly public facilities. “We want North Toraja to be an inclusive regency where persons with disabilities can move independently and feel valued in public spaces,” he remarked.
Strategic Steps and Implementation
The meeting resulted in several follow-up plans to be executed immediately. The initial phase includes drafting the Academic Paper, which involves field surveys and in-depth literature reviews regarding disability conditions in North Toraja. FKM Unhas will act as the main partner in providing evidence-based policy recommendations to the DPRD.
The delegation from the North Toraja Regency DPRD included the Vice Chairman of the DPRD, the Chairman of Commission I, the Vice Chairman of Commission I, the Secretary of Commission I, members of Commission I, and the Secretary of the Council. The broad representation from the legislature indicates strong political support for the regulation to be promptly ratified and implemented.
The formulation of this regulation will also include specific rules on coaching families of persons with disabilities, providing job quotas for the disabled in regional agencies, and facilitating access to education and specialized health services.
Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This collaborative initiative between FKM Unhas and the North Toraja DPRD is a clear manifestation of support for the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. Specifically, the drafting of the Disability Protection Regulation is closely linked to several SDG targets:
- SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Ensuring inclusive health service access, including for persons with disabilities and ODGJ, to improve their quality of life.
- SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Through a strong legal umbrella, the social and economic disparities faced by diffable groups can be minimized through empowerment and protection of their rights.
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Focusing on providing accessible and safe public facilities for everyone, including those with physical limitations.
- SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Building inclusive and responsive institutions through fair legal products.
- SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between an educational institution (FKM Unhas) and a regional government (North Toraja DPRD) serves as a concrete example of strategic partnerships for national development.
By aligning regional regulations with SDG targets, North Toraja—under the guidance of FKM Unhas—is stepping toward global standards in the fulfillment of human rights.
Future Hopes for an Inclusive North Toraja
Through this Initiative Draft Regulation, it is hoped that no citizen of North Toraja will be left behind in the development process. Public education regarding disability rights will also continue to be enhanced so that the wider community can work together to build a supportive environment.
The event concluded with a group photo session as a symbol of the synergy between the academic world and political practitioners. This commitment is expected to be a role model for other regions in South Sulawesi in involving universities to formulate policies that directly touch the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
FKM Unhas is committed to overseeing this process until the regulation is officially enacted, ensuring that every word in the policy transforms into tangible benefits for all persons with disabilities in the “Land of Lakipadada.”