UNU Jogja Pharmacy Lecturers and Students Hold Hypertension and Diabetes Education, Free Health Screening for Pandean Residents

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Lecturers and students from the Pharmacy Study Program, Faculty of Halal Industry, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), conducted a community service program through health education and health screenings to raise awareness of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gout prevention among elderly residents of RW 12, Pandean Village, Umbulharjo, on Wednesday, July 15.

The program forms part of the university's implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly its commitment to community service. It also reflects UNU Jogja's contribution to improving public health through health education and preventive healthcare services.

During the program, participants received educational sessions on hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and DaGuSiBu (Get, Use, Store, and Dispose of Medicines Properly). The sessions aimed to improve public understanding of chronic disease prevention and management while promoting the safe, appropriate, and rational use of medicines in daily life.

In addition to the educational sessions, the Pharmacy lecturers, assisted by Pharmacy students, provided free health screenings for dozens of local residents. The screenings included blood pressure, blood glucose, and uric acid tests to support the early detection of chronic disease risk factors. Through these examinations, participants were able to better understand their health conditions and take appropriate preventive or follow-up measures when necessary.

Listiana Hidayati, a lecturer in the Pharmacy Study Program and Dean of the Faculty of Halal Industry at UNU Jogja, explained that the community service program demonstrates the faculty's commitment to delivering tangible benefits to society by applying academic knowledge in the field of health.

According to her, universities are responsible not only for education and research but also for ensuring that academic expertise is translated into practical solutions that address community challenges.

"Through this program, we hope to increase public awareness of the importance of early detection of chronic diseases. Prevention is always better than treatment, so health education is an essential part of healthcare services," she said.

She added that education on hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and DaGuSiBu is expected to encourage people to become more health-conscious and to use medicines correctly and responsibly.

Beyond improving community health literacy, the program also strengthens collaboration between the university and the local community. The presence of lecturers in the community helps bridge the gap in health education by providing information in an accessible and practical manner.

The initiative was warmly welcomed by local residents. Tri Fatmawati, Head of the Segar Waras Elderly Community Group of RW 12 Pandean, expressed her appreciation for the health education and screening activities, which she described as highly beneficial for older adults and the surrounding community. According to her, the program enabled residents to gain valuable health information while learning about their own health conditions before serious illnesses develop.

"We are very grateful for this program. It has encouraged many older adults to become more enthusiastic about regular health check-ups and has helped us better understand how to stay healthy and active as we grow older," she said.

Through initiatives like this, the Faculty of Halal Industry continues to strengthen its role in applying academic expertise to address real community needs. As a university in Yogyakarta, UNU Jogja remains committed to developing sustainable community engagement programs in collaboration with various stakeholders to improve public health and overall community well-being. [Latifah]