NERS NEWS — Nursing students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, educated residents of RW 03, Kedung Cowek Village, Surabaya, on recognizing ways to prevent diseases that can spread between animals and humans through the program “BERSERI: Clean the Cage, Heal the Home and Environment”, held on Thursday (17/9/2026). Taking place at the RW 03 Community Hall, the activity delivered education using the One Health approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental health, aiming to help residents maintain family health in their daily animal care practices.
BERSERI brings issues close to residents’ daily lives into health discussions. Materials include an introduction to zoonotic diseases, modes of transmission, proper cage hygiene and placement, animal waste management, and handwashing practices after animal interaction. The proper use of personal protective equipment when cleaning cages and the importance of maintaining animal health were also emphasized. To make the messages easy to remember, they were summarized in seven key calls: Clean cages, Eliminate waste properly, Care for animal health, Always wash hands, Educate family, Maintain home and environmental cleanliness, and Participate actively.
This activity was organized by the Occupational Health Working Group (Pokja UKK), involving Groups 1, 2, and 3 — Wave 2 students during their Community and Family Nursing Practice, under the guidance of academic and clinical instructors. The target participants were residents who own pets and/or livestock in RW 03, Kedung Cowek. Their enthusiasm throughout the session reflected a positive reception toward education linking animal care and family health.
The BERSERI initiative was developed following preliminary assessments through home visits. Students documented approximately 30 households raising animals including birds, chickens, and goats. Many cages were placed close to family living areas, while limited space in this dense settlement presented challenges in proper cage arrangement. These findings ensured that the education provided was practical and suited to residents’ actual living conditions, helping them identify preventive measures they could realistically apply at home. This effort aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being through disease prevention education, and Goal 4: Quality Education by making health knowledge accessible to the community.
Through BERSERI, the students hope the key messages will be shared within families and become part of daily habits. Cleaning cages, managing waste properly, and washing hands after handling animals are simple steps that can start right at home. In neighborhoods where houses stand close together, responsible care also means respecting neighbors’ comfort. This activity represents the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga‘s commitment to bringing health education closer to the community while supporting the creation of a healthier living environment.
Writer: Sandrina Indah Paraswati
