Pay Extra Attention to Indonesia’s Senior Citizens in the New Normal: Minister

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection I Gusti Ayu Bintang Puspayoga warned that Indonesia’s senior citizens need extra attention in the new normal.

Against the backdrop of rising Covid-19 cases, several Indonesian provinces have gone ahead in implementing a new normal transition.

Given that the deaths of Indonesian senior citizens infected with the Covid-19 virus make up 43.7 percent of total Covid-19-related deaths in the country, careful attention to them will be integral in the new normal.

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“Thus we need to pay special attention to protect Indonesian senior citizens so they remain healthy amid the impending new normal,” said I Gusti Ayu on June 22.

I Gusti Ayu also recalled a WHO data that indicates senior citizens and individuals with pre-existing conditions have the highest risk for the Covid-19 virus.

Among the aspects which require extra attention for Indonesia’s senior citizens are their health and vitality.

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Other factors include identifying members who have the Covid-19 virus and protection against physical abuse.

Keeping a watchful eye on Indonesia’s senior citizens who are living alone or are in senior care homes was also recommended.

“There needs to be cooperation and support from various family members to ensure the protection of Indonesia’s senior citizens. Especially so in the new normal,” said the minister.

Ministry of Social Affairs steps in

Due to the high vulnerability that Indonesia’s senior citizens face, the Ministry of Social Affairs continues to monitor the group.

The ministry has worked on making sure that the country’s senior citizens have access to social benefit programs.

“They need to have their basic needs met to safeguard their health and thus, shield them from the dangers of the Covid-19 virus,” said Ministry of Social Affairs’ Social Rehabilitation Director-General Harry Hikmat.

Over 6,486 packages of basic goods (sembako) have been distributed among the country’s elderly in the provinces of Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, and the Jogjakarta Special Region.

Each package is valued at Rp 300,000 and consists of rice, canned biscuits, juice, and instant noodles.

Indonesia’s senior citizens who have not received assistance through the Ministry of Social Affairs' Social Rehabilitation for the Elderly Program were prioritized in receiving the packages.

Other methods to aid Indonesia’s senior citizens include adjusting the 2020 budget of the  ministry’s Directorate of Social Rehabilitation division. 

(Writer: Sania Mashabi | Editor: Bayu Galih) 

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/06/22/17040011/menteri-pppa-perlu-perhatian-khusus-jaga-lansia-sehat-saat-new-normal