Increasing Farmer Awareness, Indohun and SKHB IPB University Hold OH-VISIT
Indonesia One Health University Network (Indohun) collaborate with the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science (SKHB) IPB University held the ‘One Health (OH)-VISIT Interactive Counseling and Discussion’ activity at Balai Desa Nagrak, Gunung Putri District, Bogor Regency, West Java.
This activity was carried out through the Global Health Agromaritime and One Health Collaborating Center (GHA-OHCC) IPB University with the support of the Bogor District Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Service (Disanak) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
OH-VISIT is an effort to increase the awareness of breeders, cattleman and village officials about one health and biosecurity in preventing and tackling infectious diseases in ruminant livestock (cows, goats and sheep). More than 40 residents of Nagrak Village actively participated in this activity.
Counseling involves IPB University SKHB students as extension volunteers who have attended debriefing before going directly to the community. The five volunteers are Annisa Fajari, Arri Monikov, Cornelia Okta, Tina Natalia and Zahran Siraj.
The volunteers took turns explaining about strategic infectious diseases, the level of incidence of infectious diseases in Indonesia and West Java. The IPB University students who were involved also explained about zoonotic diseases, infectious and non-communicable diseases, diseases that often arise and how to prevent and deal with them.
“The health of livestock, humans and the environment in this village is a shared responsibility. Therefore, I say thank you for holding OH-VISIT which aims to balance and optimize health, especially for residents who have livestock,” said the Secretary of Nagrak Village, Komarudin Ulung in his remarks.
Aria Nefo Putra, Indohun Senior Manager Human Resource and Finance also expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders, both Indohun apprentice students, village heads, student volunteers from SKHB IPB University, GHA-OHCC IPB University and the Bogor Regency Diskanak who have willing to be involved in this activity.
“This event aims to increase understanding of one health to all parties involved,” he said.
Prihatini, a representative from the Bogor Regency Diskanak, added that infectious diseases in animals are very prone to occur at this time. For example, foot and mouth disease (FMD) in animals not only causes losses to farmers, but also becomes an opportunity for transmission to other ruminants.
“Preventive action is needed so that diseases in animals can be overcome through the one health concept. The OH-VISIT activity is the beginning of an effort to prevent infectious diseases in animals. Hopefully this activity can be implemented well by all parties, “she hoped. (*/Rz) (IAAS/Hap)
