The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya (FVM UB) once again demonstrates its commitment to community service. This time, a team consisting of lecturers, FKH UB students, and international students from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) organised a socialisation event on the prevention of zoonotic parasitic diseases through the application of clean and healthy living practices. The event took place at SD Brawijaya Smart School, Malang City, on Wednesday, 28 February 2024.
Figure 1: Documentation with the School Staff and KKN Team
Parasitic zoonosis refers to diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa, caused by parasites. Some common examples of parasitic zoonosis encountered in Indonesia include toxoplasmosis, worms, and scabies. Given the high potential for transmission, particularly among children, this socialisation is crucial for raising awareness and knowledge in the community.
drh. Reza Yesica, M.Sc., the supervising lecturer for the FVM UB KKN team who led the socialisation, explained, “We chose SD Brawijaya Smart School as the venue for the socialisation because we believe that health education should begin at an early age. Children are potential change agents in spreading information about clean and healthy living to their families and communities.”
Figure 2: Community Service Activity with Students of Elementary School BSS
In this socialisation, the KKN team from FVM UB delivered the material using interactive and engaging methods. They also utilised visual media such as posters and animated videos to explain how parasites can spread and how to prevent them. Additionally, the team conducted a practical session on proper handwashing by showing a video in front of the class, aimed at emphasising the importance of personal hygiene.
Figure 2: Presentation of the Plaque to the School
This socialisation is part of a continuing community service programme conducted by FKH UB. In the future, the faculty plans to expand this programme to other schools in Malang City and its surroundings.
With activities like this, it is hoped that public awareness, especially among children, about the importance of clean and healthy living in preventing zoonotic parasitic diseases will increase. Ultimately, this will contribute to the overall improvement of public health.