05 November 2025
Sunaryo S.Kom
HUMAS FACULTY OF PHARMACY USU — As part of their professional practice and community service program, students of the Pharmacist Professional Education Program (PSPPA) 40th Batch, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), organized a Health Education activity with the theme “Proper Use of Antibiotics and Health Promotion on Insulin Therapy.” The event took place at the Medan Deli Health Center, Medan City, as a manifestation of the future pharmacists’ role in enhancing public health literacy.
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This public education activity aimed to provide both practical and scientific knowledge on the rational use of antibiotics and the correct understanding of insulin therapy for people with diabetes mellitus. Through this activity, pharmacy students sought to raise awareness that medication use should be based on knowledge, professional guidance, and adherence to prescribed dosage and duration.
The antibiotic education session emphasized the dangers of inappropriate antibiotic use without a doctor’s prescription, which can lead to antibiotic resistance — a condition in which bacteria become resistant to treatment, making infections harder to cure. Meanwhile, the insulin therapy education focused on helping the public, especially diabetic patients, understand the importance of correct insulin use — including proper storage, dosage, injection techniques, and side effect management — to maintain stable blood glucose levels and prevent long-term complications.
The activity was initiated by students of PSPPA Batch 40, Faculty of Pharmacy, USU, currently completing their Pharmacist Professional Practice (PKPA) at the Medan Deli Health Center. Students acted as educators and facilitators, assisted by faculty supervisors and medical staff from the health center. This collaboration between academia and practitioners demonstrated the commitment of the Faculty of Pharmacy, USU, to producing pharmacists who are not only scientifically competent but also socially responsible and community-oriented.
The Medan Deli Health Center, a primary healthcare facility serving residents from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, was chosen as a strategic location for this outreach. As the first point of contact for patients seeking medical care, including those with infectious and chronic diseases such as diabetes, it served as an ideal venue for health education.
The activity was carried out throughout the placement period of PKPA Batch 40 (2025), with schedules coordinated with the Medan Deli Health Center. The sessions were conducted face-to-face, applying two-way communication principles to encourage active community participation and direct interaction with pharmacy students.
This initiative was prompted by the community’s limited understanding of rational drug use, particularly antibiotics, and the persistence of misconceptions surrounding insulin therapy. Many people still believe antibiotics can treat all illnesses — including flu and coughs caused by viruses — and some diabetic patients hesitate to use insulin due to fear of side effects, pain from injections, or dependency concerns.
Through this program, pharmacy students aimed to dispel such misconceptions and promote awareness that correct antibiotic and insulin use is essential to maintain health and prevent severe complications.
The educational activities included:
Interactive presentations using visual media and simple explanations to make information accessible to all participants.
Open Q&A sessions allowing participants to consult directly about the medicines they use.
Distribution of educational leaflets containing concise information on the correct use of antibiotics and insulin, enabling participants to review the material at home.
Mock demonstrations on insulin injection techniques and storage using instructional models.
Community enthusiasm was high throughout the event. Many participants actively asked questions about their antibiotic use habits and diabetes medication storage. The session was engaging and informative, reflecting the students’ dedication to sharing knowledge and making a tangible contribution to public health.
The health education activity aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being — By promoting rational antibiotic use and proper diabetes management, this program directly supports improved community health and well-being.
SDG 4: Quality Education — The initiative served as a form of informal health education for the community and provided hands-on learning for pharmacy students to apply pharmaceutical knowledge in real settings.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals — Collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy, USU, and the Medan Deli Health Center exemplified strategic partnerships between academia and healthcare institutions to foster a healthier, more informed society.
Through this initiative, USU pharmacy students hoped to raise public awareness of the pharmacist’s vital role as a frontline healthcare professional in providing medication education. With a spirit of knowledge-sharing and community care, this health education program represents a concrete step toward creating an informed, rational, and sustainably healthy society.
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