President Jokowi: Excellent Human Resources is Key to Win Competition
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Wednesday (01/25) opened the 2023 National Working Meeting on Family, Population, and Family Planning Establishment (Banggakencana) Program and Stunting Reduction at the National Population and Family Planning Board’s Auditorium in Jakarta.
On that occasion, President Jokowi went on to say that all countries are competing in various sectors, while underscoring that qualified human resource is vital to win the competition.
“In ASEAN, we seems to embrace each other, but actually we are also in the same competition. We are competing for investment, technology sectors. All countries are in competition. And, the key is qualified, advanced human resources,” the President added.
To that end, President Jokowi ordered the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) to focus on carrying out its duty in developing prosperous family and controlling population growth in Indonesia.
“It is not an easy job for the BKKBN. Developing prosperous family is not easy. But I am sure that 1.2 million facilitators supported by their assistants at the BKKBN can make it,” the President said.
Echoing the same sentiment, Head of the BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo said that the achievement of the BKKBN in maintaining population growth is based on the total fertility rate (TFR) which is targeted at 2.1 by 2024.
“Based on data collection and survey, the number is currently approaching 2.1,” Hasto added.
In addition to improve family quality, the BKKBN has taken measures to accelerate stunting reduction.
According to Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia has reached 21.6 percent.
“If we want to reach the target of 14 percent, it means that we have to decrease it by 3.8 percent in two consecutive years. This year it must be reduced to 3.8 percent, next year it must be decreased by 3.8 percent,” Budi added. (FID/TGH//UN) (AP/RAS/MMB)