In a broadcast here on Friday, the ministry's director for productive age and elderly health, Nida Rohmawati, stated that some 1.6 million Indonesian children are born with some form of disability, and 52 thousand children aged 5-17 years have down syndrome.
Moreover, she cited data from the 2024 general election, which showed some 1.1 million adults with disability in the country.
"Actually, they all have their potentials. It is a matter of finding it out early and taking preventive measures, so the potentials can be developed to enable them to become independent and also score achievements and become productive," Rohmawati remarked.
Rohmawati referred to Law Number 17 of 2023 on Health, which also touched upon the subject of services for those people. Moreover, the establishment of a government regulation is awaited that will elaborate on the policy further.
She noted that disabled people will be supported through lifelong healthcare tailored to their condition. Hence, the ministry insists that people immediately partake in the national healthcare program.
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"We also begin with promotive and preventive measures, actually. Since adolescence, the mom-to-be must be healthy, and if the (child) is born with a special condition, (then they would know) what to do," she noted.
The ministry also collaborates with communities to disseminate information and offer support for the people. One such collaboration is with the Association of Parents with Children with Down Syndrome (POTADS) to host a social event to clean children's ears.
Rohmawati elaborated that this is because children with that disability have different-shaped ears, which cause dirt to accumulate.
Rohmawati also pointed out that her administration pursues collaboration with other ministries to empower the people, such as with the Social Affairs Ministry, to offer aid devices.
The ministry also promotes fair job opportunities for disabled people by collaborating with the Manpower Ministry, Industry Ministry, and Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry to offer vacancies for them.
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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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