Kenalkan Jahe Merah dan Okra, Mahasiswa UGM Ajarkan Cara Meracik Obat Tradisional
Kenalkan Jahe Merah dan Okra, Mahasiswa UGM Ajarkan Cara Meracik Obat Tradisional
Kenalkan Jahe Merah dan Okra, Mahasiswa UGM Ajarkan Cara Meracik Obat Tradisional
Post-graduate students of Faculty of Pharmacy UGM introduce how to make traditional medicine to the residents of Kapencar village, Wonosobo regency, Central Java. The traditional medicine is made by using local plants that can be grown in the garden for household scale product.
Fadhil Rusyida, Pharmacy student, said that he and other 38 colleagues worked with Women Farmers Group in the village to explore the potential of medicinal plants and processed them into herbal medicinal products which can be produced on SMEs scale. "Two types of medicinal plants that we introduce are red ginger and okra," Fadhil told reporters on Friday (27/5).
According to Fadhil, considerations for selection of the two types of medicinal plants are the area and demand after the harvest. Red ginger is widely known as herbs. While okra or Abelmoschus esculentus is a plant that has the potential to treat diabetes mellitus. "Okra demand in Asia is very high. We introduced okra to the community. We brought seeds from Jogja to be planted there. Okra could be harvested every two months," he said.
The introduction of traditional medicine, said Fadhil, has started since mid-May, and is planned to continue, involving members of local farmer groups. They also conduct health education class for the community, including on the dangers of smoking and drug abuse, counseling for teenagers, the introduction of young pharmacists and healthy snacks for children, as well as the introduction of how to choose cosmetics that are safe for mothers. "For the elderly we conduct health checks for free," he said.
Head of the Graduate School of Pharmacy, Dr. Erna Prawita Setyowati, said that the community service activity is carried out entirely by graduate students of Pharmacy as a requirement for master’s degree "We want this service activities to involve the competence of pharmacists in applying their knowledge in the community," she explained.
Vice-Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation and Alumni of Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Agung Endro Nugroho, M.Si., Apt., said that Kapencar village is a development partner of Faculty of Pharmacy. They sustainably perform service activities in cooperation with farmers and society. "We regularly train farmers and SMEs related to herbal products," he concluded.