UNS – The keep increasing COVID-19 positive case, encourages the lecturers from the Diploma in Pharmacy Study Program, Vocational School (SV), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, organize a community service program through training in Jamu (herbal drink) production to improve immunity. The training is designed for Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) cadres in Pucang Sawit Village Office, Jebres Sub-District, Surakarta on Monday (29/6/2020). The event was conducted in accordance with the health protocol established by the government, limiting the number of participants, maintaining distancing among participants, and wearing personal protective equipment.
The training was opened by the Pucang Sawit Village Chief, Yosef Fitriyanto, S. H. In his opening remark, Yosef coveys that this event is very useful especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. He hopes that the PKK cadres can share the knowledge they earn from this training to the community, for the greater benefit of society. Besides Jamu production, PKK cadres also were given training in hand sanitizer making, which expected to facilitate the community to produce their own hand sanitizer and reducing its cost. This community service program is welcomed by the Head of Diploma in Pharmacy Study Program, Anif Nur Artanti, M.Sc., Apt., who is also a member of the community service program. In her remark, she mentioned that this program is one of the actions of concern from the educational institution, especially the Diploma in Pharmacy Study Program SV UNS, in an attempt to disseminate knowledge and research results to the community.
The program itself is part of a research grant received by the Applied Pharmacy Research Group of the Diploma in Pharmacy Study Program SV UNS. The Applied Pharmacy research group is established to support the research and community engagement activity in UNS. “All research and community engagement activities are in line with the vision of Diploma in Pharmacy Study Program SV UNS, in developing pharmacy products that can contribute to the society, as well as introducing the pharmacy product with the hope that it can be adopted by the community. One of the areas of the study raised is the quality improvement and modification of traditional medicinal preparations one of which is Jamu,” explains Anif.
The community service program is led by Heru Sasongko, M.Sc., Apt., along with the following members Dian Eka Ermawati, M.Sc., Apt., Anif Nur Artanti, M.Sc., Apt, Sholichah Rohamni, M.Sc., Apt. and Wisnu Kundarto, M.Biomed., Apt. The program entitled “Assistance in Making Formula for Immune System Enhancing Herbal Medicine, to Increase Community Knowledge in Pucang Sawit Village, Surakarta” has been granted a PNBP 2020 funding by the LPPM UNS. This program also involves the Student Association of Diploma in Pharmacy Study Program members (Himafarma) UNS. The training was started with a pre-test to know the participant’s knowledge on Jamu and immunity, followed by material presentation and training, and lastly, a post-test was conducted to assess how successful is the community service program. This training also promotes Indonesian natural resources such as Gotu kola, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and palm sugar.
At the end of the training, the participants show that they have a basic understanding of immunity and how to enhance it during the pandemic condition. The participants are enthusiastic about practicing how to mix the ingredients of hand sanitizer. During the closing, the Head of Community Service program, Heru Sasongko states that he hopes that the PKK cadres can share the knowledge to the community especially the Pucang Sawit community. He also hopes that this program can continue through collaboration between the Government of Pucang Sawit Village and the Diploma in Pharmacy Study Program SV UNS. Humas UNS/Dwi