Health to Live: Community Skills Development through Mask and Hand Sanitizer Production and Distribution during COVID-19 in Surabaya

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic created intertwined public health and socioeconomic challenges, prompting community-based interventions that combined health protection and practical skills training. This study examines the initial needs, implementation, documented outcomes, and limitations of the Health to Live program in Jambangan and Pagesangan, Surabaya. A descriptive qualitative evaluative approach was employed using needs-assessment findings, activity observations, program documentation, and participant responses. The initial assessment identified demand for masks, hand sanitiser, and handwashing facilities; however, individual socioeconomic profiles and baseline income data were not documented. The program integrated health education, practical exposure to mask and hand-sanitiser production, and product distribution. Activity records indicate positive participation and report gains in understanding and skills, although standardised competency testing and product-level quality-control records were unavailable in the manuscript. Consequently, the evidence supports initial productive-capacity development rather than verified increases in income, sales, business continuity, or economic self-reliance. Collaboration among university representatives, students, local government, and residents facilitated implementation, while the absence of follow-up monitoring limits sustainability assessments. Future initiatives should prioritise verified product safety, performance-based skills evaluation, basic business management, and longitudinal monitoring. The study distinguishes documented immediate outputs from prospective economic impacts.