Gov’t Steps Up Efforts to Eliminate Stunting

President Jokowi takes a group photo with the attendees of 2019 National Health Work Meeting at ICE Bumi Serpong Damai, South Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday (12/2). (Photo by: the Presidential Secretariat).

Health problems are our main concern and must be resolved immediately, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has said.

The President cited an example of stunting rate in Indonesia at 37 percent in 2014.

“It would be useless to talk about competition with other countries while at the same time we still have 37 percent of stunting cases,” President Jokowi said in his remarks at the opening of the 2019 National Health Working Meeting at ICE Bumi Serpong Damai, South Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday (12/2).

Nevertheless, he added that the number of stunting case has now dropped to 30 percent, thanks to collaborative efforts between the Government and national health personnel. “We have to make Indonesia a stunting-free country,” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also asserted that the Government is committed to improving the quality of health insurance services managed by the Healthcare Security Provider Body (BPJS Kesehatan). He also called for sound financial management of the BPJS Kesehatan, adding that the Government has disbursed funds for BPJS Kesehatan Subsidy Beneficiaries (PBI).

“In early February, we disbursed Rp6.38 trillion,” President Jokowi said, adding that the Government will also disburse Rp1.1 trillion and Rp6.3 trillion in early March and April respectively.

The President also invited national health personnel to jointly resolve the nation’s health issues for the better health and quality of nation’s human capital. (BPMI Setpres/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Muhardi/Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas