The issue of poverty in Indonesia often leads to various social problems, including abandoned children. In 2023 alone, 856 abandoned toddlers and 5,128 abandoned children were reported.
The economic limitations of neglected children’s families generally encourage multiple problems for themselves, including suffering from malnutrition, lack of parental love, and not receiving maximum educational services.
Five students from the Student Creativity Program in Community Service (PKM-PM) at UGM developed a Common Diseases Education (ComDi) program in response to this issue.
The team, guided by Dr. Anna Wahyuni Widayanti from the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy (Pharmacy UGM), includes Trisna Pramudea Puryatna, Mutiara Jelita, Rida Lafaiza Uma Khoir, Surya Nur Agustina, and Kamila Azra Nur Izzati from the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM).
The team leader, Trisna Pramudea Puryatna, stated that ComDi Education aims to prevent common diseases, promote healthy living behaviors, and provide guides on common diseases and their treatments.
Additionally, the program educates children on emotions and how to express or manage them. The program is implemented at Bimomartani Social Rehabilitation and Childcare Center (BRSPA Bimomartani) in Sleman.
“The implementation of this program is carried out at the Bimomartani Social Rehabilitation and Childcare Center, Ngemplak, Sleman,” Puryatna said in a statement sent to the media crew Saturday (Aug. 3).
The ComDi Education program consists of four main activities: Getting to Know ComDi, Fun with ComDi, Exploring with ComDi, and ComDi Friends Reflection. The program uses cooperative learning methods, focuses on group activities, and considers the children’s diverse backgrounds at BRSPA Bimomartani.
Early childhood and kindergarten activities include games that develop fine motor skills and imagination. For elementary and middle school, games are designed to enhance understanding of common diseases, build social skills, and foster a competitive spirit.
Puryatna mentioned that the ComDi Education program effectively transformed the children’s health behaviors at BRSPA Bimomartani, as evidenced by the pre-and post-tests in each activity.
“Most children showed significant improvement in understanding common diseases and adopting clean and healthy living behaviors (PHBS). Additionally, they became better at expressing themselves,” Puryatna said.
Mutiara Jelita, another team member, revealed that after the program, some children began to open up, express themselves, and share their feelings during the activities.
“We are delighted and grateful that the program was well-received by the children and had a positive impact,” Jelita added.
The ComDi Education program includes plans for continuation to ensure the sustainability of the PHBS practices at BRSPA Bimomartani. The UGM PKM-PM team also plans to establish a cadre program to continue ComDi Education, especially for new children, to foster a clean and healthy lifestyle culture.
Feriawan Agung Nugroho, a social worker at BRSPA Bimomartani, welcomed the initiative by the UGM students, noting that the center lacks regular training or teaching due to budget constraints.
“The center is very open to external assistance to fill the gap in activities for the children,” Nugroho explained.
According to Nugroho, the challenges faced by BRSPA Bimomartani are not only external but also internal, particularly with foster children.
“Our foster children, who are accustomed to street life, often neglect their health and hygiene even after being educated. They rarely wear footwear while playing, seldom bathe, shampoo, or wash their hands before eating,” Nugroho continued.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif