MBKM-PkM activities was started by distributing questionnaires on Saturday and Sunday of 20 and 21 May 2023 to the residents of Dusun Pajangan using the door-to-door method. The aim of the questionnaire was to find out the community’s understanding of degenerative diseases, the condition of vacant lands in Dusun Pajangan, as well as the potential of medicinal and vegetable plants to prevent degenerative diseases. Through distributing this questionnaire, 40 respondents were found with an age range of 15-69 years. Among them, 33 respondents had never heard of degenerative diseases. Based on these results, we found out that most residents of Pajangan think that an unhealthy lifestyle and stress are the main triggers of degenerative diseases. Then, based on the several examples of degenerative diseases mentioned, people are more familiar with high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes mellitus, while 7 of them did not know the examples of degenerative diseases. Furthermore, through distributing this questionnaire, it was revealed that there were several vacant lands in Dusun Pajangan, most of which had not been used optimally other than for gardening and for waste disposal. In addition, we also obtained data that 29 out of 40 respondents already knew about medicinal and vegetable plants, plant samples, and some of their uses. Most people in Dusun Pajangan also use medicinal plants as herbal medicine.
Then, to further increase public understanding of degenerative diseases, our team has also conducted socialization or outreach programs about degenerative diseases and the potential of several plants as preventative alternative treatment on June 4, 2023 at 10.00-12.00 WIB. This program aims to increase the understanding of the Dusun Pajangan community about degenerative disease, the factors that affect degenerative diseases, as well as the potential of some plants to prevent these diseases. The socialization which was attended by 17 residents of Dusun Pajangan received positive responses. Besides that, our team also made an inventory of several medicinal and vegetable plants in Dusun Pajangan which aimed to find out what medicinal plants are often used by the community. Based on the results of the inventory, there are several medicinal and functional plants that are widely grown by the people in Dusun Pajangan, including ginger, galangal, betel, aloe vera, Indian mulberry, papaya, banana, guava, butterfly pea, pandan leaves, taro leaves, and many more.
