Indonesia, with its vast territory and dense population, is still trying to overcome the problem of cleanliness, and it is the responsibility of all levels of society to overcome it in accordance with the goals of the 6th SDGs, namely Clean Water and Sanitation. Actively contributing in providing information and solutions related to water, sanitation and hygiene to the people of Pagerejo Village, Kertek District, Wonosobo Regency, Thematic Community Service (KKNT) Team 2022/2023 of Diponegoro University (Undip) carrying out a work program with the theme “Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)”.
There are 7 Undip students who are members of the KKNT Undip Pagerejo Village team, namely Iqbal Andra Santana (Spatial Planning and Land Planning 2019), Irma Setyaningrum (Social Anthropology 2019), Anisa Yulinar Anggraini (Nutrition Science 2019), Kamelia Anggi (Public Health 2019), Adira Putri Ramadhanti (Public Health 2019), Ago Agus Jumadi (Public Health 2021), and Anisa Firdaus (Spatial and Land Planning 2019).
Iqbal Andra Santana as the Village Coordinator of the KKNT Undip Pagerejo Village team explained the reason his team chose Pagerejo Village, Kertek District which is located between Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing as the location for their community service. “In Pagerejo Village there are still many people who practice open defecation and do not know the impact of open defecation on the environment and public health. The implementation of this program will involve various parties including the community, health cadres, village officials, Puskesmas and the Health Service,” said Iqbal.
The flagship program of the KKNT Undip Pagerejo Village team includes Socialization to the Pagerejo Village Community regarding Open Defecation Free (ODF), where the Undip KKNT team provides education to the Pagerejo Village community regarding STBM (Community-Based Total Sanitation), a description of open defecation behavior, the impacts arising from Open defecation, efforts to prevent and control open defecation, as well as provide understanding to the public regarding the importance of practicing sanitary hygiene. The second program is Data Collection on Open Defecation Free (ODF) conditions in Pagerejo Village which aims to find out the number of households in Pagerejo Village who have done ODF and have not done ODF. Through the Gema Bang Jamet system (Community Movement to Build Healthy Latrines), the community and local government work together to resolve open defecation behavior problems which have unknowingly had a negative impact on people’s lives in Wonosobo.
Apart from running the WASH program, the KKNT Undip Pagerejo Village team also participated in a tenongan event in Pagerotan sub-village. The tenongan tradition is held at the Kyai Sunan Puger tomb complex (Makom Sikramat) once every 70 days and coincides with Friday Kliwon. The event is a form of manifestation of the unifying power of residents and strengthens friendship between residents, by visiting Sunan Puger’s grave carrying tenong filled with nasi Golong which is placed on the head (sunggi).
According to Iqbal and his team, Thematic KKN plays an important role in adapting to changes in people’s behavior. Students are involved directly in analyzing and studying problems, as well as providing appropriate solutions to problems in the village where the KKN is located.
“A message for friends who will carry out KKN offline, always maintain the good name of Undip and maintain ethics and courtesy. Run the KKN program properly and seriously, and take part in village activities so that it is easier for you to adapt to the local community,” concluded Iqbal. (Titis – Public Relations)
