“Our economy is not okay. Not only on the national scale, on the global scale it is like that, too. Hence, there are priority programs, ranging from food resilience, energy resilience, downstreaming, nutrition, housing, and cooperatives,” he explained here on Wednesday.
He said that his ministry is supporting programs that promote healthy nutrition, particularly the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) initiative for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.
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“We in the Population and Family Development Ministry have a tangential, supporting role in those programs, hence I give directive for the fellows to prioritize work under our authority,” he added.
To optimize the demographic bonus, people must have optimism and put their trust in the foundations that the current President and Vice President are laying, he added.
Human capital development is a long process and its results are not instant, but can take five to 10 years to emerge, the minister highlighted.
“I am optimistic and sure, it’s just that I said to be patient. Insha Allah, it will become better. (President Prabowo Subianto) is currently focusing on the foundational aspects, and I believe he has thought of it thoroughly,” he said.
His administration is committed to supporting the prioritized programs, particularly the six key ones. To create a great generation is a complex matter and requires a huge effort.
“Because it is complex, hence I say it takes much effort, from the beginning to the end. For example, stunting. We still have about 19.8 percent, whereas the target in our National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) is 18 percent,” he pointed out.
The ministry will also seek to ensure children above two receive quality parenting to support the achievement of the demographic bonus.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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