The event involved representatives from ministries or institutions in 34 provinces and 514 districts/cities, both from the government and Healthy Province/District/City Forums across Indonesia.
"In order to build collective awareness, they try to respond to health issues nationally through the actions of district heads or mayors. Their enthusiasm is extraordinary," Pranowo said.
The governor also highlighted the rise in maternal deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic due to exposure to the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
"Let us try to anticipate it so that they and pregnant mothers can receive full attention," he said.
If the mothers are healthy, then babies will be born healthy. This can be prepared from the start with good data and attention, he remarked.
The 2022 Healthy City Summit is expected to support the government's work in formulating health-related policies, Pranowo noted.
"Because, as it turns out, building our health awareness does not always have to be done through the top-down method," he said.
"It can also be done in a bottom-up manner from district heads or mayors' ideas that I believe are great," he added.
This can alleviate the government's burden because, during the post-pandemic period, there will be policies with new models and scientific data that have to be realized, he opined.
Meanwhile, head of Association of the Indonesia Municipalities (Apeksi) and Bogor Mayor, Bima Arya, said the event is a sign that the COVID-19 situation has started to become normal.
"This is the time for us to collaborate and to discover new knowledge and concepts. Health discussion is not just limited to equipment, but also experience and observing the latest data," he added.
"We hope that the Omicron is the last one. We should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Everyone should be responsive toward that," he said.
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Translator: Wisnu Adhi N, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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