Ngemplak Simongan, January 10, 2026 – Mosquitoes are disease vectors that continue to pose a public health issue, particularly in densely populated areas. Diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya can spread rapidly if the environment is not properly managed.
As part of efforts to improve environmental health, KKN-T Team 8 from Diponegoro University, comprising students from the Pharmacy, Public Health, Mathematics, Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering departments, organized an educational event and demonstrated how to make anti-mosquito spray using lemongrass in Ngemplak Simongan Village, West Semarang District, specifically at RT 6 RW 2 on Saturday, January 10, 2026. This activity involved the local community, particularly the PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) mothers, as the primary target of education. The objective was to raise awareness about the health risks posed by mosquitoes and provide practical skills for creating natural mosquito repellent sprays that can be easily made at home.
The event began with a presentation on the dangers of mosquitoes, followed by a demonstration on how to make a natural mosquito repellent spray using lemongrass. The spray is made by boiling approximately 1.5 liters of water with 10-15 stalks of lemongrass, adding liquid soap (optional). The mixture is cooked until a fragrant aroma is released, and the water turns a cloudy green.
The community showed great enthusiasm throughout the activity, with several residents asking questions about how to make the lemongrass mosquito repellent spray. One resident, Mrs. Waltini, remarked, “Oh, you can make a spray from lemongrass? I didn’t know that, miss.” The aim of this activity is to increase community knowledge about safe, environmentally friendly mosquito control alternatives that can be easily prepared and applied at home.