29 August 2024
Syafrijal S.Kom
Berastagi - The University of North Sumatra's Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM USU) deployed four lecturers to carry out community service in Rumah Berastagi Village, Karo Regency, Friday (12/7).
The community service carried the theme "Increasing the Knowledge of the Rumah Berastagi Village Community About Medicine and the Utilization of Carrot (Dauscus carota L) Agricultural Waste as a Skin Moisturizing Soap".
The community service was attended by Dr. Sumaiyah, M.Sc., Apt as Team Leader, with members Dra. Singgar Ni Rudang, M.Sc., Apt., Dr. T. Ismanelly Hanum, S.Sc., M.Sc. Apt and Ade Sri Rohani, S.Farm., M.Farm. Apt., as well as three undergraduate students of the Pharmacy study program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dwi Putri Yolanda Barus, Tessa Rotua Victoria Sormin and Maria Nada Resta Sihotang.
Team Leader Dr. Sumaiyah, M.Sc., Apt, Monday (24/6) explained that the community service was motivated by the lack of public understanding about medicine, the use and proper handling of medicine. The lack of public knowledge about perceptions and behavior towards the habit of ignoring skin health. Especially skin moisture that is often exposed to sunlight and the climate of the residential environment that can endanger skin conditions.
Lack of public knowledge in utilizing carrot agricultural waste that can be processed into a product such as skin moisturizing soap. Then, the lack of public knowledge about marketing and business plans for entrepreneurship so that the 8th SDGs have not been achieved, namely decent work and economic growth.
"The results of the community service team's discussion with the head of Rumah Berastagi village are known, Rumah Berastagi Village is a village that has agricultural potential such as carrots. However, when harvesting, not all carrots have a selling value. Most farmers leave the harvest waste to rot in the field while waiting until the next land processing is carried out. Partners also have special problems, namely the lack of health education and lack of knowledge about drugs and the proper use of drugs. This is indicated by the still high irrational use of drugs in the community," explained Dr. Sumaiyah, M.Sc., Apt.
In order to increase public awareness and knowledge regarding the correct use of drugs, continued Dr. Sumaiyah, M.Sc., Apt, the community service team held a series of workshops and seminars. Participants were taught about the importance of rational drug use, recognizing types of drugs, and how to store drugs properly. In addition, an understanding was also given about the dangers of using drugs without a prescription and how to access available health services.
Not only focusing on drug education, this program also introduced how to utilize the remaining carrot agricultural products that are often thrown away. Carrots, which are rich in vitamin A and antioxidants, can be processed into quality skin moisturizing soap products. The process of making this soap is taught directly to the community through intensive training which includes carrot juice extraction, mixing other natural ingredients, to the product packaging stage.
This organic soap with active carrot ingredients requires other additional ingredients that are easily obtained on e-commerce and in the market. The goal is to form or develop the community in Rumah Berastagi Village to increase knowledge about drugs, as well as empower them economically through the utilization of carrot agricultural waste.
The first activity carried out in the service, continued Sumaiyah, was socialization and providing material to participants regarding DAGUSIBU drugs, namely how to obtain, use, store and dispose of drugs correctly with the aim of increasing public understanding of drugs.
Then continued the delivery of material by Singgar Ni Rudang about skin and various skin problems. Continued by T. Ismanelly conveying the various benefits of carrots and especially the benefits of carrots that can moisturize and maintain healthy skin.
Then the last material was delivered by Ade Sri Rohani. She explained about the business plan of the skin moisturizing soap product that was made. During the presentation of the material, it was clear that the participants were very enthusiastic about the material. This was proven by the many questions asked by the public and their deep curiosity regarding medicine and skin as well as moisturizing soap products from carrots.
Pebrisiswanta Purba, Head of Rumah Berastagi Village expressed his deepest gratitude to LPPM USU for bringing in USU lecturers to help find a solution to the problem of the large amount of carrot agricultural waste that is often thrown away on agricultural land.
"As the village head, I express my gratitude and thanks on behalf of all residents. Because we have been greatly helped and cared for. We finally got a solution from carrot agricultural waste
We, he continued, have been greatly assisted and cared for. We hope that this activity will not stop here. We also want activities on other agricultural innovations from LPPM USU in the future. "We always open the door for the arrival of the service team and students from USU," he said.
The service was continued with the practice of making soap directly by the community, as well as discussions while having a dialogue with the community present regarding the procedures for making and how to use the soap correctly. This activity was directly accompanied by Pharmacy students and all lecturers from the USU service team.
Source: https://analisadaily.com/berita/baca/2024/07/15/1053941/lppm-usu-pengabdian-ke-desa-rumah-berastagi-limbah-wortel-dijadikan-produk-sabun-mandi/
