The 2024 Universitas Brawijaya’s Doctoral Service Team from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH UB) conducted community service for livestock farmers in Tegowangi Village, Plemahan District, Kediri Regency, for two days (2-4/7/2024). They distributed mineral candy for livestock and door-to-door counseling on strategic infectious animal diseases (PHMS), one of which is Leptospirosis.
The team consists of five FKH students led by field supervisor, drh. Gretania Residiwati, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Gretania said that Strategic Infectious Animal Diseases (PHMS) are animal diseases that can cause high mortality and/or morbidity in animals, economic losses, public unrest, and/or are zoonotic. Leptospirosis is a type of zoonotic disease caused by the Leptospira bacteria that can be carried by rats, which can then spread the disease to livestock or humans.
“Therefore, education about Leptospirosis disease is very important considering the large number of rat pests in various regions of Indonesia, one of which is in Tegowangi Village,” he explained.
The implementation of this activity aims to provide direct understanding of the importance of understanding Leptospirosis disease so that the community can then apply the knowledge provided to prevent the disease from spreading and causing losses.
Previously, the DM KKN Team of Tegowangi Village had also produced “Livestock Candy” which is a mixture of minerals, salt, and molasses that is formed into a candy-like shape and dried by drying it in the sun. This candy is useful as additional nutrition for livestock. Next, the candy will be distributed along with the door-to-door counseling time.
The counseling team was divided into three sub-teams accompanied by the local RT visiting the homes of the farmers. Furthermore, the team provided an explanation regarding infectious animal diseases and gave livestock candy that had been produced by the Tegowangi Village DM KKN team.
“We hope that by holding this door-to-door counseling, Tegowangi Village farmers will understand more about Leptospirosis and will increase awareness of the importance of maintaining livestock health so that Tegowangi Village is free from Strategic Infectious Animal Diseases,” said Kadek Karma Wahana, one of DM KKN students in Tegowangi Village. [Dimas Rafi Hardiyanto/Irene/ UB PR/ Trans. Iir]
