I am surprised by the high number of children with intellectual disability in Indonesia, reaching 5.2 million. Taking care of them is not easy, so it must be done carefully
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has highlighted its commitment to providing support for people with disabilities by introducing and implementing several plans for better health services.

"I am surprised by the high number of children with intellectual disability in Indonesia, reaching 5.2 million. Taking care of them is not easy, so it must be done carefully," Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin noted in a written statement here on Sunday.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health stated that it would fully support all health requirements for the 2022 Special Olympic Week (Pesonas) scheduled to be held in Semarang, Central Java, on July 3-8, 2022.

According to Sadikin, the support for Special Olympics Indonesia (Soina) will continue to be offered after the implementation of Pesonas.

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"This health service support is essential, considering the fact that children with intellectual disabilities need different treatment," he remarked.

In the implementation of Pesonas, the form of support to be offered includes vaccination of Pesonas participants and COVID-19 antigen test facilities for all Pesonas participants upon their arrival and departure.

Moreover support is extended in the form of one-month health insurance for Pesonas participants, referral hospital services, and utilization of the Health Training Center (Bapelkes) and Health Polytechnic (Poltekes) facilities as lodging places for Pesonas participants.

The ministry will also extend support in producing one thousand copies of health guide books. In addition, the Ministry of Health will supervise specifically the condition of the food served as well as ensure the preparation of the nearest hospitals around the event location.

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Soina chief Warsito Ellwein lauded the plan conveyed by the minister regarding research on intellectual disability in a bid to reduce the prevalence.

According to Ellwein, the research should be lauded, as it will open up a wide space for children with disabilities to receive good health services.

"This is an extraordinary quick response from the minister of health," he remarked.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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