Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia after the Inspection of National Immunization Week in Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, July 23, 2024

President of the Republic of Indonesia

Well, we have to be cautious because currently polio outbreak occurs once again throughout the world. TBC cases also increase. So, we want to prioritize areas with low rate of polio vaccination.

Health Ministry and regional Health Agencies should mobilize their healthcare workers to provide polio vaccines to all our children to protect them against polio. That’s it.

Journalist

What do you think about stunting, Sir? The rate is going down slowly.

President of the Republic of Indonesia

We started to handle stunting at 37 percent rate ten years ago. Now, it is currently at 21 percent rate, it lowers drastically. However, it takes longer time than before to lower the rate from 21 percent to 14 percent. It is because stunting is not only about food, additional nutritious food, but also sanitation, neighbourhood, house, clean water, all of it must be well-consolidated. We keep working on it.

Journalist

But the rate only went down by 0.1 percent in 2023?

President of the Republic of Indonesia

Yes, we know, we know about the rate. The rate lowered significantly before, then it currently lowers slowly, but we are making a continuing effort to push it down to 14 percent rate.

Journalist

Sir, do you have a message for Papuan children on this National Children Day?

President of the Republic of Indonesia

Well, Papuan children are clever and smart. You could see it when they participated in the “Gasing” (a mathematics learning method) program. It means that the human resources are good and have talents. We just have to make them improved.

Journalist

Sir, what about the new Chairperson of General Election Commission?

President of the Republic of Indonesia

It takes administration process. If it is completed, we will step forward as quickly as possible.

(AW/LW)