ULM Students Implement Needs-Based Program, Creating Healthy, Mosquito-Free Homes in Benua Raya Village
Tanah Laut – Students from Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) implemented an Impactful Village Development Program titled “Healthy Homes Free from Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes” in Benua Raya Village, Bati-Bati District, Tanah Laut Regency. This program provides a space for students to directly implement their knowledge within the community.
The activity was carried out by 15 students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Forestry under the guidance of Field Supervisor Dr. Muhamat, S.Si., M.Sc.
The group leader, Maulida, explained that this program was motivated by the village’s environmental conditions, which are dominated by swampy areas and densely populated settlements, making them potential habitats for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Furthermore, three cases of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) were recorded in the village in 2024.
“We want to help the community create healthy homes free from dengue mosquitoes through education and concrete actions on the ground,” she said.
The program began with a survey on November 29th, followed by training with the DPL (Village Forest Management Agency) on December 3rd, an opening and outreach program on December 13th, seedling planting on December 14th, and monitoring from December 22nd to January 11th.
The program was designed based on needs. Students provided education about the Aedes aegypti mosquito, distributed citronella seeds as a mosquito repellent, and taught residents how to make simple mosquito traps.
Activities included environmental surveys, health outreach, practical mosquito trapping, distribution and planting of citronella seeds, and monitoring plant growth and trap effectiveness. Maulida stated that the program received a very positive response from the Benua Raya Village community.
“The village government and residents were actively involved in every stage of the activity,” she said.
Through the Impactful Village Development program, students applied the environmental ecology they had learned in college, particularly regarding the role of mosquitoes as disease vectors and indicators of environmental conditions. The program also served as a means of strengthening communication skills, public education, and science-based problem-solving.
For students, this program provides contextual learning experiences and strengthens soft skills. For the community, this activity increases understanding of dengue fever prevention and the importance of maintaining a healthy, mosquito-free environment.
ULM is committed to maintaining the sustainability of the program through integration into the MBKM (National Health and Social Welfare Movement) and community service schemes, along with a regeneration system and regular evaluation to ensure its impact continues into the future.
