Indonesia is one of the world's busiest travel hubs, with millions of people arriving and departing by air, sea and land every year. While this connectivity supports trade and tourism, it also increases the risk of diseases spreading across borders. Airports, seaports and ground crossings therefore play an important role in protecting communities through the early detection of health threats.
To strengthen preparedness at these points of entry, the Ministry of Health and WHO brought together more than 50 health quarantine officers from across Indonesia for a national workshop in Jakarta and Cikarang from 3 to 7 August 2026. During the workshop, participants reinforced their knowledge and practiced how to identify health risks, investigate potential threats, coordinate with different agencies and respond effectively during public health emergencies.
They also exchanged experiences and lessons from their work in different parts of Indonesia, particularly the preparedness planning at points of entry. One of the key themes was the importance of planning and working together before an emergency happens. When health authorities, transport operators, local governments and other partners clearly understand their roles, they can respond more quickly and effectively when a health threat emerges. Experiences from these locations will help strengthen preparedness at other points of entry across Indonesia.
The workshop is part of Indonesia’s health quarantine and border health transformation, which aims to strengthen the country's ability to identify and respond to health threats before they spread. Health authorities are working to identify risks earlier, improve preparedness and ensure faster coordination among relevant agencies.
“Building resilient systems and investing in points of entry transformation, including strengthening multisectoral collaboration, developing competent health personnel, advancing digitalization and improving border health intelligence, is crucial for strengthening the nation's health security,” said Dr Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, Vice Minister of Health, during the opening session of the workshop.
WHO will continue to provide technical assistance for the Ministry of Health and health quarantine officers as they develop preparedness plans and monitor capacities at points of entry. This includes points of entry preparedness planning activities supported by The Pandemic Fund in West Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Banten, Bali, Batam and North Jakarta. These efforts will strengthen Indonesia’s ability to detect health threats early, respond effectively and protect communities from future public health emergencies.
This activity is supported by The Pandemic Fund.
Written by Dr Endang Widuri Wulandari, National Professional Officer (International Health Regulations), WHO Indonesia