ABOUT

Community health is a crucial aspect because it has a broad impact on the overall economic, social, and health well-being of society. Currently, the Indonesian community faces a double burden: an increase in both non-communicable and communicable diseases. According to data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer were the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in 2023. Despite significant progress in controlling communicable diseases such as TB and malaria, Indonesia still faces challenges in managing these diseases. Although the government has made various efforts to improve community health, the results have not been optimal. Slow innovation and implementation, as well as fragmented and uncoordinated research, exacerbate these health development challenges.

Research Excellent in Advancing Community Health (REACH), Universitas Airlangga is designed as a Research Center focused on improving community health through research, education, and the application of best practices. Established in 2017 (it was research group on community health nursing and family nursing), REACH adopts a multidisciplinary approach to address these challenges. REACH was formed to meet these needs and began operations with the vision of becoming a leader in public health innovation. Through collaboration with universities, government agencies, and international partners, REACH integrates multidisciplinary approaches in its research and implementation. Its main focuses include health innovation and technology enhancement, chronic disease management, infectious disease prevention, and health policy.

With quality human resource research, extensive collaborative networks, and the application of a comprehensive sociotechnical systems approach, REACH aims to create meaningful changes in public health. Support for REACH encompasses four main issues: health innovation and technology, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and health policy. Each research domain has measurable target outputs such as scientific publications, intellectual property, research collaborations, and direct impact on the University’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as well as the overall improvement of public awareness and health.