ULM Biology Study Program Lecturer Holds Family Medicinal Plant Cultivation (Toga) Training for Posyandu Cadres

BANJARBARU, – The concern of this Lecturer in the Biology Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), deserves a thumbs up. They actively participated in supporting the improvement of public health through training in the cultivation of Family Medicinal Plants (Toga) for Posyandu Rosela cadres in RT 41 RW 07, Guntung Manggis Village, Banjarbaru, recently. “Posyandu Rosela is one of the Posyandu groups which has an important role in improving the health of families, especially children under five. “However, obstacles to cadres’ knowledge about family medicinal plants and the lack of Toga in the RT 41 area are obstacles in carrying out the Posyandu function,” said Evi Mintowati, Lecturer at the ULM Biology Study Program.

Posyandu, as a movement that plays an important role in monitoring and improving the health of families, especially children under five, is the main focus of this activity. Posyandu Rosela, one of the Posyandu groups in the area, faces obstacles related to the lack of knowledge of posyandu cadres about types of medicinal plants and how to use them. Apart from that, the RT 41 area does not yet have Toga, so its availability becomes an obstacle when it is suddenly needed. In an effort to overcome this problem, the service team from ULM consisting of Biology Study Program lecturers, Evi Mintowati and Abdul Gafur, as well as Pharmacy Study Program lecturer, Liling Triyasmono, provided training to Rosela Posyandu cadres.

This training covers how to process family medicinal plants and their cultivation, with the hope of increasing people’s knowledge in using family medicinal plants for first aid before seeking professional medical help. “This family’s medicinal plants are very important for treatment in emergencies,” said activity team leader Evi Mintowati. The service team also provided several types of medicinal plants to the Rosela Posyandu group to be planted in the Toga garden, ensuring the availability of these plants locally.

Dwiko Suyanto, Head of RT 41, appreciated this activity and expressed his gratitude for the contribution made by the service team. He hopes that there will be similar activities at other times that can provide benefits to the welfare of the community in the RT 41 area. “It is hoped that joint efforts like this can strengthen the involvement of universities in supporting community health development at the local level,” he said.