UNAIR NEWS – Drugs abuse and trafficking is no longer dominated by urban communities and nightspots, but it has also touched the various layers of society in the countryside. One of them is in West Rabasan, Parseh Village, Socah Subdistrict, Bangkalan Regency, Madura, as one of the areas that receives special attention from ranks of government and police.

With such problems, a team of students of Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Universitas Airlangga led by Ratna Kuatiningsari held a community service in the region.

In its activities in Student Creativity Program for Community Service (PKMM), the team wrote a proposal entitled ” POSKERNAP (Drugs Working Post) as Follow Up Against Drug Sellers, Dealers and Users in West Rabasan Village, Parseh Village, Socah Subdistrict, Bangkalan, Madura ” . Several new innovations were implemented.

The PKMM team consisting of Ratna Kuatiningsari, Devita Khulqiah Rosydiana, Venia Ilma Dwi Prastika, Farida, and Shadilla, all students of FKM UNAIR, feel grateful that in Parseh Village there has been very strong culture in society, such as otok-otok (arisan), sarkosar (cleaning the burial area), and Pandemin (helping others to build house), as well as routine sermon activity every Friday in Parseh Village.

“During the implementation of the entrenched tradition we inserted anti-drug abuse campaign. We tried to exploit potential of youth activeness in village development, ” said Ratna.

Seeing the youth association of West Rabasan who are very active and enthusiastic, the UNAIR student team succeeded in empowering them to become POSKERNAP cadres as a form of their concern on drug abuse in their village.

As a result, the youth cadres were invited in POSKERNAP Road to School activities. Not only that, the POSKERNAP cadres are also able to become organizers of ” Parseh Mengaji “ as a medium of dissemination about the dangers of drug abuse to the people of Parseh Village.

“I think this POSKERNAP event is very useful especially for the youth, because we will know more about the drug and the danger. So I am very supportive and hope POSKERNAP activities can continue, “said Imam, POSKERNAP cadre.

Based on the discussion between the students and the cadres, in early June 2018, as a follow up of POSKERNAP, positive activities are done as a diversion so that Parseh Village people do not use drugs. For example from the celebration of holidays, volleyball every afternoon, POSKERNAP Road to School to the entire school, etc. Thus, said Ratna, the PKM-M UNAIR team as the initiator is very happy and hopes to have a positive impact for the people of West Rabasan, Parseh Village, Socah Subdistrict, Bangkalan Regency. (*)

Editor: Bambang Bes