Synergy with the Community, IPB University’s Innovation KKN-T Students Participate in Helping Posyandu Activities in Pasurenan Village
IPB University Innovative – Thematic Community Service Program (KKN-T) student groups participated in helping posyandu activities in Krajan Hamlet and Wirayasa Hamlet, Pasurenan Village, Banjarnegara, Central Java. Siti Nur Azizah, a student at IPB University, said that she and her team helped posyandu cadres as well as providing nutrition education to mothers in the two hamlets.
"One of the activities of IPB University students in Krajan Hamlet is recording data on the growth and development of babies. The recording is to find out whether there are abnormalities in the growth and development of the baby," said Azizah.
Furthermore, KKN-T Innovation students conducted random interviews with parents regarding their babies' behavior. Students also direct parents to provide further stimulation at home such as stacking objects up, often talk to children, increase children's interactions with peers and so on.
On the other hand, a group of students on duty at Wirayasa Hamlet measured the baby's weight and height. After the measurements were taken, the KKN-T Innovation students helped in providing supplementary food (PMT) in the form of fruit and eggs to the babies at the posyandu.
“PMT is an intervention program for malnourished children around the world. This program aims to improve the nutritional status of children and meet their nutritional needs in order to achieve a nutritional status suitable for children," explained Azizah.
Generally, she continued, PMT is a form of supplementation in the form of complementary foods such as eggs and combined with vitamins in fruits or formula milk. PMT is given to malnourished children and infants aged 6-59 months. For infants and children aged 6-24 months, this formula is used together with breastfeeding complementary food (MP-ASI).
"Mothers are very enthusiastic about this monthly posyandu activity because they feel they can monitor the growth and development of their children continuously, especially at the age of 0-2 years or what is commonly called the golden age. This posyandu activity is also used as a forum for consultations between mothers and cadres regarding problems experienced by babies," she added.
IPB University students also take a role in educating mothers regarding the correct MP-ASI and good stimuli carried out by parents to children so that later they can create a superior generation. "We and the cadres have great hopes that parents will accompany their children to go to the posyandu regularly," she hoped.
In full, IPB University Innovation KKN-T students in Pasurenan Village consist of Siti Nur Azizah, Inez Shaskia Widodo, Annisaturaddiah, Ifrad Budi Tritama, Septiawan Pebrianto, Yosafat Sabam Sahalatua Sinaga, Ade Indra Rukmana, Theresia Eunike Margaretha Pontoh, Daphne Salsabile Alinandita dan Rendy Haryanto. (Theresia/Rz) (IAAS/SHY)
