Yogyakarta, October 9, 2025 – Environmental sanitation is an effort to maintain public cleanliness and health by managing physical environmental factors that affect human well-being, such as clean water supply, waste and wastewater management, and access to hygienic toilets. The goal is to create a healthy environment, prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and improve community quality of life.
Recently, Sompok Hamlet, Sriharjo, Imogiri, Bantul, received assistance from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) through the Community Service Team of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (DKF), in the form of two newly constructed toilets. This community engagement activity went beyond physical infrastructure; it also included education on the importance of environmental hygiene and proper sanitation practices.
In his presentation on environmental sanitation, Prof. Dr.rer.nat. apt. Adam Hermawan, M.Sc. emphasized that poor sanitation can lead to various health problems, particularly among children, such as diarrhea, stunting, and parasitic infections, which in severe cases may even result in death. To prevent these issues, he encouraged residents to take active steps to improve sanitation through education that raises awareness and knowledge, along with adequate facilities such as clean water, waste bins, sinks, and toilets. Prof. Adam also reminded the community to adopt clean and healthy living habits, avoiding open defecation, washing hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet, bathing regularly with soap, disposing of waste properly, and managing household waste responsibly.
Following the educational session, the activity continued with a soap-making workshop led by Dr. Djoko Santosa, M.Si., together with students from the UGM Pharmacist Professional Study Program (PSPA) and staff from DKF. The soap-making process used simple, easily accessible ingredients, with green tea simplicia added as a natural component providing antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Through this hands-on session, residents not only learned personal hygiene practices but also gained practical skills to produce a product with economic potential. The community service team also distributed pocket books on environmental sanitation and leaflets containing soap-making guidelines to the residents.
This series of activities reflects the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as well as SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Through collaboration between academia and the community, the initiative aims to foster a cleaner, healthier, and more self-sufficient environment while strengthening the spirit of mutual cooperation in maintaining public health.
Contributors: Naeli Syarifah, Agustina Ari Murti Budi Hastuti, Setyowati Triastuti Utami, Ratna Asmah Susidarti, Navista Sri Octa Ujiantari
