REPOUCH, Crafting Health in the Backyard: Innovation of Rhizome Pouch from Family Medicinal Plants Accompanied by Community Service Program (KKN) Students and Pharmacy Program Study Lecturers, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University
Nesianetwork.id - Bandungan Village, August 14th, 2024 – In an effort to improve community welfare through the utilization of family medicinal plants, Mooisy Nataly Siregar, a student of the Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata) at Diponegoro University, carried out a work program titled "Optimization of Family Medicinal Plants (TOGA)" in collaboration with lecturers from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, UNDIP. This program was conducted during the KKN in Bandungan Village, Jatinom District, Klaten Regency, and received positive responses from the local residents. This work program was implemented on August 1st 2024, with 32 members of the Women's Farmers Group participating (Kelompok Wanita Tani).
The program aims to empower the community in utilizing family medicinal plants as a source of alternative medicine. As part of this initiative, demonstrations and training sessions were held on how to create a product called "Repouch," a rhizome mix in a pouch that is expected to boost immunity and treat colds and coughs. In the socialization event, Mooisy, along with pharmacy lecturers Dr. Khairul Anam, M.Si, and Fitri Wulandari, M.Clin.Pharm., apt., provided knowledge about various types of medicinal plants that are easy to prepare and obtain, such as ginger, turmeric, temulawak, lemongrass, stevia, and lime. The training was enthusiastically attended by members of the Women Farmers Group (Kelompok Wanita Tani) and health cadres in the village.
Collaboration with pharmacy lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine, UNDIP, added significant value to this program. The lecturers not only provided theoretical knowledge about the benefits of medicinal plants but also practical knowledge on the simple preparation of traditional herbal drinks. This gave the community a more comprehensive understanding of the correct use of medicinal plants.
This work program successfully raised community awareness of the importance of family medicinal plants. Residents who previously lacked knowledge on how to utilize these plants are now more educated and motivated to process family medicinal plants in a simple yet effective manner. Additionally, some residents have started consuming TOGA to meet their family's health needs. As a follow-up, it is hoped that this program will continue with ongoing support from KKN students and pharmacy lecturers. Future plans include regular monitoring to ensure the program's sustainability and the optimization of benefits for the community.
This program not only succeeded in optimizing the use of family medicinal plants in Bandungan Village but also strengthened the relationship between the university and the community through constructive collaboration. It is hoped that programs like this can continue to be implemented in other regions to support independent and sustainable community health.
Editor:
Achmad Munandar
Achmad Munandar