The Sun Brings Light to Bisesmus
Despite the abundance of herb plants in Bisesmus Village, herbal drinks had not become a standard part of the local lifestyle. However, this changed when CD Bethesda YAKKUM introduced a community-based health program in the village. As part of the initiative, residents received training on how to process herbal plants. This program taught them that many local ingredients could be transformed into health-supporting herbal drinks. One of the recipes introduced was the Instant Immunity Drink.
After the training, the community committed to forming an herbal group to follow up on the training results. On 15 February 2023, four mothers participated in the training activity and formed a group, namely Herbal Mentari Bisesmus (Bisesmus Sun Herbal). Mama Ansilia leads the herb group. After that, they started processing herbs in Mama Ansilia’s home, which is located in Abukun B Village.
The Bisesmus Sun Herbal Group has also received equipment support from CD Bethesda YAKKUM, including a thermos, a stainless pan, and a spatula. The group regularly produces Instant Immunity Drink to support Posbindu activities by providing herbal drinks to elderly participants during the service.
People in Bisesmus Village Make the Herbal Drink
On 23 March 2023, the Bisesmus Sun Herbal Group received an offer from CD Bethesda YAKKUM to sell their Instant Immunity product during the World Tuberculosis Day commemoration at Puskesmas Uabau. They were proud of this opportunity, as their group was entrusted with producing Instant Immunity for a wider audience.
“We are very proud because, out of the five villages supported by CD Bethesda YAKKUM, our group was chosen. This is a sign of trust in our group, which we must make the most of, and it is also an opportunity to promote our product," said Mama Ansilia proudly.
People in Bisesmus Village Enjoying the Herbal Drink
Since then, their products have gained recognition in the community, leading to increased demand. Besides being affordable, the benefits of the instant immunity drink have been proven, such as boosting endurance and appetite. On April 15, 2023, the Head of Bisesmus Village entrusted the Bisesmus Sun Herb Group to prepare the herbal drinks for the Bisesmus Village visioning event participants. On the same day, a doctor from Puskesmas Uabau purchased their product. How happy the group was to be recognized by the wider community. Despite still using traditional stoves and firewood for cooking, the group remains highly motivated and works hard to produce instant immunity drinks. They also strive to create a product label to enhance their marketing efforts.
(Yohannes Pedro)
