Temanggung (July 28, 2024) — Community Service Program (KKN) students from Universitas Diponegoro (Undip) held a public awareness campaign on household sanitation in Campursalam Village as an effort to reduce stunting rates in the area. Sanitation, which includes maintaining cleanliness and preventing contamination from disease-causing sources, was the primary focus of this initiative. Poor sanitation can trigger various infectious diseases in toddlers under two years old, such as diarrhea and intestinal worm infections, which can disrupt the digestive process and nutrient absorption. If such conditions persist over time, the risk of stunting in children significantly increases.

During the campaign, Undip students provided in-depth information on the importance of basic sanitation, emphasizing that the prevention and management of stunting are not solely dependent on adequate nutrition or genetic factors but are also influenced by the quality of the living environment. The campaign highlighted three main aspects of sanitation management: the provision of clean water, household waste disposal, and the availability of proper latrines tailored to the conditions in Campursalam Village.

The students explained that clean water provision, especially for drinking, must meet health standards to avoid contamination with harmful substances. They also provided guidance on how to properly manage household waste, both organic and inorganic, to prevent it from becoming a source of disease. Additionally, they stressed the importance of every household in the village having an adequate septic tank as part of creating a healthy environment.

Through this campaign, it is hoped that the villagers will gain a better understanding of the importance of maintaining household sanitation to help reduce stunting rates, particularly among toddlers under two years old in Campursalam Village.