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Politeknik Negeri Jember (Polije), in collaboration with the Government of Kasian Barat Village, Puger District, held a socialization program on the Utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Leprosy Prevention and Early Detection through Skin Image Analysis on Tuesday (August 26, 2025). The event, hosted at the Kasian Barat Village Hall, was fully supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) of the Republic of Indonesia under the 2025 Community Service Program.
Polije lecturer Tegar explained that the initiative was designed to assist the government in reducing, and ultimately eradicating, leprosy in Indonesia, particularly in rural areas of Jember Regency.
“We have developed a mobile AI-based application that can be used by the public for early detection of leprosy. In practice, users can take a photo of skin symptoms, and the application will analyze it using the AI technology we created,” he said.
Although leprosy cases in Indonesia have decreased, Jember Regency still records active cases. For this reason, Tegar emphasized that technology-driven preventive measures represent a strategic step.
Kasian Barat Village Head, Hadi W., welcomed the initiative and confirmed the local government’s commitment to support the outreach process.
“The village government is ready to provide full support. This program is crucial because people need to know how to recognize the early signs of leprosy so that medical treatment can be administered promptly,” he stated.
The socialization involved Polije lecturers and students, village officials, health cadres, and the local community. The program is planned to be implemented in three phases across several villages in Jember Regency.
Through the synergy of higher education institutions, village governments, and local communities, the initiative is expected to raise awareness and accelerate early detection of leprosy, enabling more effective treatment and prevention efforts.