Community Empowerment Through Health Education, Waste Management, and Clean Water Provision in Jorong Mato Aia, Nagari Batu Taba

Abstract

Community empowerment is an important strategy for improving public health and environmental sustainability through participatory approaches involving local communities. This community service program was conducted in Jorong Mato Aia, Nagari Batu Taba, Batipuh Selatan District, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. The program aimed to increase community awareness and knowledge regarding health promotion, waste management, prevention of non-communicable diseases, and access to clean water. The methods used included preliminary surveys, direct observation, interviews with residents, community meetings, health education sessions, environmental interventions, and free health screenings. The results of the initial survey identified several priority problems in the community. Approximately 34% of residents had inadequate waste management practices and 7% were categorized as poor, which potentially contributes to environmental pollution. In addition, 29% of residents (56 people) were identified as experiencing hypertension, while 11% (22 people) had gout, indicating the presence of non-communicable disease risks in the community. The survey also showed that 28% of households had suboptimal access to clean water, and 61% of residents did not know their blood type, reflecting limited awareness of basic health information. Based on these findings, several intervention programs were implemented, including health education on hypertension and gout prevention, waste management education, installation of educational boards regarding waste decomposition time, free health screenings such as blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and uric acid examinations, and the construction of a simple water filtration system to improve access to clean water. The activities involved community participation and collaboration with local health cadres and village authorities. The implementation of the program showed positive responses from the community, with high participation during educational activities and health screenings. These interventions helped increase community knowledge regarding healthy lifestyles, environmental sanitation, and preventive health behaviors. Overall, the program contributed to improving community awareness and participation in maintaining environmental hygiene and personal health in Jorong Mato Aia.