Palu City, 7-8 April 2026
Hasanuddin University has once again reaffirmed its contribution to international collaborative research through the Follow-up Focus Group Discussion (FGD) conducted by the Climate and Health (CH 3.4) Partnership for Australia-Indonesia Research (PAIR) Sulawesi Research Team. The activity took place from Tuesday to Wednesday, 7-8 April 2026, at the Tinombala Room, Swiss-Belhotel Silae, Palu City, and was led by Prof. Rini Rachmawaty, S.Kep., Ns., MN., Ph.D., as Partner Investigator.
The CH 3.4 Research Team is a institutional collaboration involving Hasanuddin University, Bandung Institute of Technology, and the University of Melbourne. The team is conducting a project titled “Climate-related Health Outcomes and Healthcare Access in Southeast and Central Sulawesi Provinces: Enabling Climate Resilient Policies and Governance”. The research responds strategically to the rising incidence of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and diarrhoea, as well as broader challenges in healthcare access across Central and Southeast Sulawesi.
The PAIR Sulawesi Programme is initiated by the Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC), with support from the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (MoHEST) and the Government of Australia. Funding is provided by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Government.
A Confirmation and Validation Stage
This Follow-up FGD is a direct continuation of the first-stage FGD held on 4-5 December 2025. While the initial FGD aimed to deepen understanding of stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions, the Follow-up FGD was specifically designed as a confirmation and validation stage for the six overarching themes identified through four-level reflexive thematic analysis. Methodologically, this process is known as member checking, an effort to verify that the researchers’ findings genuinely reflect the lived experiences and perspectives of stakeholders on the ground.
The activity was organised across three sessions over two days and involved a total of 35 cross-sectoral participants an increase from the 30 participants of the December 2025 FGD. This growth reflects strengthening trust among stakeholders towards the CH 3.4 PAIR Sulawesi Research Team’s research agenda.
Implementing Team
The Follow-up FGD was supported by the following research team members:
Prof. Rini Rachmawaty, S.Kep., Ns., MN., PhD. Partner Investigator and lead facilitator;
Dr. Irsanty Collein, M.Kep., Ns., Sp.Kep.MB. Local Research Assistant and Facilitator;
Rati Mardatillah, S.Kep., Ns. Research Assistant and minute-taker;
Alfi Irtiyah Andini, S.Kep., Ns. Research Administrator.
The team was responsible for planning, facilitating discussions, documentation, and managing data collection throughout the activity.
Methods and Discussion Approach
Each session of the Follow-up FGD combined three sequential methods. First, member checking, which involved re-presenting the six overarching themes derived from four-level reflexive thematic analysis to participants for confirmation, correction, or expansion based on their lived experiences. Second, Policy Brief validation, in which participants provided direct feedback on the policy recommendations developed by the research team. Third, an FGD guided by the Policy Readiness Tool (PRT) interview guide, exploring policy readiness factors specific to each location’s profile, with Palu City identified as an Innovator based on the quantitative PRT survey.
All discussions were recorded using the Plaude device with participants’ written consent and transcribed verbatim by trained research assistants. Participant responses were documented and categorised into: confirmation of findings, addition of local nuance or context, correction of inaccurate information, divergent perspectives, and new findings not previously captured in the analysis.
Session 1: Policy Makers (12 Participants)
Session 1 was held on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, from 08:00 to 12:30 Central Indonesia Time (WITA), and engaged 12 participants from the policy-maker group. Attendees included the Head of the Palu City Health Office, dr. Rochmat Jasin Moenawar, accompanied by three representatives from the Divisions of Environmental Health, Disease Prevention and Control, Programme Planning and Budgeting, and Health Promotion. Also present were the Secretary of the Palu City Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Moh. Fahri, S.E., M.Si.; the Secretary of the Palu City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Mohamad Issa Sunusi, S.T.; staff from the Environmental Health Section of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Health Office; staff from the Central Sulawesi Provincial Bappeda; and two representatives from the Central Sulawesi Provincial Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
The discussion focused on confirming findings from a regulatory and governance perspective, including the absence of climate-health regulation, coordination systems that activate only during outbreaks, and preparedness capacities that remain geophysically oriented. Palu City’s identification as an Innovator in the PRT survey was also confirmed, with participants reflecting on its relevance.
Figure 1. Participants of the Follow-up Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Session 1 (Policy Makers). (Photo: Research Team)
Session 2: Health Providers (13 Participants)
Session 2 was held on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, from 13:30 to 17:30 WITA, with 13 participants from the health provider group. Attendees included the Director of Madani Regional Hospital, Palu City (dr. Hairuddin, M.K.M.) and the Head of Medical Support Services at Madani Hospital (Atmudin Mustapa, S.K.M., M.M.); the Director of Anutapura Regional Hospital (dr. Maria Rosa Da Lima Rupa); the Head of Medical Support Services at Undata Regional Hospital; as well as the Heads of Sangurara Community Health Center (Suardi, S.Kep., Ns.), Talise Community Health Center (Rahmat Massi, S.K.M., MAP), and Mabelopura Community Health Center (Muh. Yakin), each accompanied by two staff members.
The discussion centred on validating findings from the operational perspective of frontline health services. Theme 3, on health workers carrying multiple roles without climate-related orientation, and Theme 5, on vulnerable groups acknowledged but not differentially protected, drew the deepest engagement. Participants also discussed the relevance of the Policy Brief from clinical and logistical standpoints, including barriers to implementing climate-responsive standard operating procedures, limited diagnostic equipment, and gaps between national protocols and the actual capacity of community health centers (Puskesmas).
Figure 2. Participants of the Follow-up Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Session 2 (Health Providers). (Photo: Research Team)
Session 3: Community Leaders (10 Participants)
Session 3 was held on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, with the participation of 10 community leaders. Attendees included the Head of South Palu Sub-District (Goenawan, S.STP) and two staff members; the Secretary of Mantikulore Sub-District (St. Aisyah); the Head of Donggala Kodi Village (Idris, S.H., M.H.); the Head of Boyaoge Village (Idrus Mansur, S.E.); the Head of Government Affairs of North Tatura Village (Wahyu Novi Hidayat, S.Sos.); the Secretary of South Tatura Village (Ninik Arbidani, S.Kom.); the Secretary of Tondo Village (Fitriani S.); and a representative of Talise Village (Rakil).
This session offered the perspective closest to the lived experience of communities. Theme 4, on communities already doing more than policy requires including Kaili local wisdom, gotong royong (mutual cooperation), waste banks, and labour-intensive activities, received strong confirmation. Participants enriched the findings with concrete examples of independent community practices that have not yet been embedded in any formal programme. Discussion of Theme 5 also opened meaningful reflection on the most vulnerable groups in each area and the informal community support mechanisms filling the gaps left by formal programmes. The PRT-guided FGD explored the role of opinion leaders, local values, and conditions enabling the acceptance of new programmes at the community level.
Figure 3. Participants of the Follow-up Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Session 3 (Community Leaders). (Photo: Research Team)
Follow-up and Expectations
The entire Follow-up FGD on 7-8 April 2026 ran smoothly and orderly, with active participation from 35 cross-sectoral attendees. The data obtained including member checking responses from the three groups, Policy Brief validation input, and qualitative PRT FGD data will be integrated into the final revision of the scientific manuscript targeted for a reputable international journal, as well as into the finalisation of the Palu City Policy Brief.
The outcomes of this activity are expected to strengthen the foundation for evidence-based policy recommendations and to support the development of a more responsive, anticipatory, and sustainable health system in addressing the impact of climate change in Palu City and Central Sulawesi Province in particular, and in advancing climate-based health policy across districts and cities throughout Indonesia in general.
Through the active engagement of Unhas’s academic community in cross-national collaborative research such as this, Hasanuddin University continues to affirm its commitment as a research university with a strategic role in shaping evidence-based public policy, particularly on issues of climate and public health.
