"Resolving the COVID-19 problem should also provide solutions to other problems. If economic problems are not resolved simultaneously, it could actually lead to multiple health problems," he said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.
Therefore, he added, the government is considering the COVID-19 pandemic not only as a health problem, but also an economic one.
Health and economic problems need to be dealt with in tandem so that health issues do not multiply due to worsening economic difficulties, he noted.
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"Resolving the main health problems remains important, but the solution must be multidimensional, (and) not just (focus on) the health dimension. Economic recovery will also accelerate the resolution of health problems," said the head of the COVID-19 Task Force Team of Experts.
He further said that a multidimensional solution is needed in order to ensure that the use of the state budget focuses on handling COVID-19 without neglecting the response to other diseases in Indonesia.
"We also have to remember there are tuberculosis, HIV, stunting, and other diseases in Indonesia, which already existed long before COVID-19, and they also needs to be handled," he pointed out.
The resolution of other problems needs to be strengthened, he said adding, that way, Indonesia can survive and move forward.
"We must strengthen national defense. Besides COVID-19, we must also strengthen (the resolution of) the other sides (problems),” he averred.
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Translator: Dewanto Samodro/Aria Cindyara
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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