UNS — The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has lasted almost two years. Several new variants of concern have also has spread to Indonesia. As a prevention measure, the government of Indonesia has initiated a vaccination program, but until today, the citizens remain reluctant to get vaccinated and have yet to implement health protocol properly. This condition applies, especially to rural communities.
A Student Community Service Program (KKN) Team from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta is facing a similar situation. Team 148 of KKN UNS deployed to Gombang Village, Sawit Sub-District, Boyolali, found that numerous village residents are still not aware of the danger of Covid-19 and do not want to be vaccinated. Considering this fact, the KKN UNS Team 148 took the initiative to disseminate the information regarding the threat of Covid-19 as well as the benefit of vaccination to the village residents.
The on-site socialization was designed for the elderly community because they are susceptible to Covid-19 infection, especially those with respiratory disease comorbid. Other than the elderly, representatives of the Gombong Village Youth Association, the Gombong Village apparatus, the Head of Neighborhood association, and representatives of middle-aged communities are also attending the event on Monday (23/8/2021).
“Most residents are still careless with health protocol and reluctant to get vaccinated. Therefore, community concerns toward health protocol and vaccination program need to be improved through our community service program,” said Fajar Nadwiko Utama, as the Team Leader of KKN UNS Team 148.
The 10 (ten) members of the KKN Team also collaborate with the Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Sawit Sub-District. A representative from the Puskesmas Sawit, Fina Khiliyaus Jannah, S.K.M. and Sawit Pukesmas Midwife, Choirul Idhawati, A.Md.Keb., assist the dissemination of Covid-19 and the vaccination program. Besides educating the village residents on the Covid-19 pandemic, the team supervised by Dr. Mohammad Muchtarom, S.Ag., M.Si., also provides examples of properly implementing health protocols (wearing masks, washing hands, keeping distance, avoiding crowd, and reducing mobility). To improve the residents’ participation in the vaccination program, the team also explains the importance of vaccination against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“After the socialization, the community is expected to have better awareness toward vaccination program for enhancing community immunity in Gombang village amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,” Fajar added. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti