02 September 2024
Syafrijal S.Kom
DELISERDANG, Paluh Sibaji Village, led by Village Head Nasri, is located on the coast of Pantai Labu District, Deliserdang. The problem of minimal sanitation, including limited clean water facilities and toilet facilities, has resulted in various environmental health problems, including skin diseases, diarrhea, and stunting.
In 2023, there were 3 cases of stunting recorded in Paluh Sibaji Village. This situation underlines the importance of proper sanitation as an indirect factor in preventing stunting. This is also in line with SDG goal number 6, namely, clean water and proper sanitation for all.
To help the people of Paluh Sibaji Village with this problem, Lecturers from the Faculty of Public Health, University of North Sumatra (USU), through the Community Service Institute, implemented a community service program in the village from June to August 2024.
This community service program with the theme of revitalizing sanitation facilities, is chaired by Dr. Sri Malem Indirawati, SKM, M.Sc., with members Dr. Umi Salmah, SKM, M.Kes, Dr. Eka Lestari Mahyuni SKM., M.Kes, Izzah Dienillah Saragih, SKM. M.Epid and Annisa Rizka Lestari, S.K.M, M.K.M.
This program also involves students namely Stepani Angeline Hutagaol and Meryntha Andrey Tiara Sembiring. They work together with the village government and the local community to improve community knowledge, awareness, and commitment to the importance of proper sanitation.
Head of Community Service, Dr. Sri Malem Indirawati, SKM, M.Si explained that this program has several main objectives, including empowering the community to revitalize clean water and toilet facilities, and improving sanitation facility management by forming a management organization at the hamlet level. "In addition, this program also aims to improve the health status of the community by adopting the Healthy Eastastary Settlement model," he said.
He also explained that the methods used in this program include socialization, mentoring, and organizing the community in sanitation management. "We involve MBKM students in this activity, to provide off-campus experience and support the university's Key Performance Indicators (IKU)," he explained.
Dr. Sri Malem also said that the target of this activity is the community in Hamlet IV, Paluh Sibaji Village, with the target output in the form of improving the quality of residential sanitation, knowledge, and management of residential environmental management.
The benefits of improving sanitation management by the community, said Sri Malem, are improvements in community values which ultimately encourage changes in behavior in efforts to maintain joint sanitation facilities. "It is hoped that with this program, sanitation facilities in Paluh Sibaji Village can continue to be well maintained and have a positive impact on the health of the local community," he explained again.
Dr. Sri Malem also expressed his gratitude for the grace and gifts of Allah SWT, and thanked all parties who have supported this activity, including the University of North Sumatra, the Faculty of Public Health, the village government and the community of Paluh Sibaji Village. "With great hope, hopefully this activity can provide sustainable benefits for all parties involved and inspire improvements in environmental management along other coastal areas," he concluded.
Source: https://sumutpos.co/pendidikan/18/07/2024/dosen-fkm-usu-edukasi-warga-desa-paluh-sibaji-revitalisasi-sarana-sanitasi-air-bersih-dan-jamban/
