In a press release received from the ministry here on Wednesday, she said that the construction of the social granaries is expected to make it easier for leprosy survivors to get the equipment they need and maintain personal hygiene.
"If you have trouble getting soap, towels, and other equipment, please come to the social granary, we will provide them,” Rismaharini added.
She said that the Social Affairs Ministry has built more than 600 social granaries throughout the country, especially in disaster-prone areas.
The ministry recently built social granaries in three neighborhood areas of Barito Kuala District with the goal of preventing and overcoming the spread of leprosy.
Although their number is not the highest in South Kalimantan, the number of leprosy survivors in Barito Kuala district has reached 58. The district also has 281 people with disabilities and 35 cataract survivors.
She explained that one of the reasons for the high leprosy cases in the district is the habit of bathing in the river.
There is also a lack of awareness on sharing towels and toiletries with lepers, which can lead to transmission.
"The Social Affairs Ministry has provided various toiletries, sleeping equipment, medicines, and various other needs. If you run out of them, you can ask for them at the social granary. So you should not mix them with other family members so as not to get infected," she said.
She added that the social granaries will later be managed by community members mentored by the local health center and the village government.
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Translator: Hana K, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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