Day: June 17, 2022

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Solo readying 65 low-floor buses to support ASEAN Para Games

The Solo (Surakarta) city government will ready 65 low-floor buses to support implementation of the ASEAN Para Games 2022, from July 26 to August 6, an official stated.

“They are for athletes with disabilities. Currently, preparations have been made, and we have coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation,” Head of the Solo Transportation Office Hari Prihatno noted in Solo on Friday.

Prihatno remarked that discussions were still underway for the provision of low-floor buses, and they would be operated in July alongside the implementation of the ASEAN Para Games.

“We do not know yet as to when the buses will arrive in Solo, as this is in the process of being discussed,” he said.

The low-floor buses have been tested some time back for a duration of one month, Prihatno stated.

According to the office head, the trial results showed that the low-floor buses are not only disability-friendly but also elderly-friendly.

“They do need improvement for more representative stops. Actually, special bus stops are not necessary, as they are already low floor,” he remarked.

Later, after being used by the ASEAN Para Games athletes next month, his side had planned that the buses will be used for the rejuvenation of bus rapid transit Batik Solo Trans (BST) in corridors 3 and 4. In addition, some of the buses will be operationalized in other corridors to facilitate passengers with disabilities, he remarked.

“In terms of suspension, it is also more comfortable for passengers, including old people, while riding this low-floor bus,” Prihatno emphasized.

Earlier, Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka said he would continue to develop BST operations in the agglomeration area, specifically Greater Solo encompassing Klaten, Boyolali, Sukoharjo, and Karanganyar.

Some 1,648 athletes and 661 officials from 11 ASEAN countries are expected to compete in 14 sports branches of the ASEAN Para Games 2022, Raka stated.

 

Source: Antara News

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Technology can help prevent food loss, build resiliency: BRIN

The use of technology, whether in processing, storing, infrastructure, packaging, and/or marketing, can prevent food loss and bolster national food resiliency, according to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

The use of accurate technology can offer various benefits, Head of BRIN’s Agriculture and Food Research Organization Puji Lestari said in a statement posted on BRIN’s website on Friday.

In addition to making the process more effective and efficient, it can also make it more economically beneficial as well as capable of preserving the environment.

BRIN has continued to perform research and produce innovations to answer the problems of food loss, including on post-harvesting processing technologies, like canning, and non-thermal technologies that can support post-harvesting and sustainable food production.

Breeding plants with the support of technology can also become an important part of the long-term solution, Lestari informed.

This can help produce new superior varieties that are more compatible with the supply chain so that consumers can get food that is fresh and of good quality.

Head of BRIN’s Food Technology and Process Research Center Satriyo Krido Wahono noted that several food technologies and processes, such as freeze-drying, preservation, and packaging can be applied to reduce potential food loss.

These technologies can extend the usage period for food materials and/or processed foods, he said.

Transforming food waste into other food materials or non-food materials, such as animal feed, organic fertilizers, absorbent materials, preservatives, and packaging materials, is also another option for reducing food loss.

Meanwhile, Head of BRIN’s Horticulture and Plantation Research Center Dwinita Wikan Utami said that coffee and cocoa are plantation commodities that are of vital economic value for Indonesia.

Food losses can occur during planting and harvesting as well as incidents outside of farming that affect production.

The strategy to reduce food loss in coffee and cocoa production includes carrying out good agriculture practices such as breeding using bolstered cultivation technology to improve the harvest.

The strategy also covers conducting metabolomics studies to reveal the potential of metabolite products, adhering to good handling practices, using good quality seeds, ensuring optimal harvesting time, good distribution, and creating smart farming systems, she noted.

 

Source: Antara News

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Pre-Employment Card Program part of SDG efforts: minister

The Pre-Employment Card Program is a part of efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) given its wide coverage in Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has said.

“It is part of the SDGs because this program is enjoyed in 514 districts/cities throughout Indonesia,” he noted at the #KitaPrakerja (#WePreEmployment) gathering in Sentul, Bogor district, West Java, on Friday.

Hartarto, who is also chairman of the job creation committee, explained that 56 percent of the Pre-Employment Card participants live in villages, 49 percent are women, and about 3 percent are persons with disabilities.

At least 30 percent of pre-employment card participants who used to be unemployed have now found work or have become entrepreneurs, he informed.

According to the minister, 90 percent of the participants have claimed that the program has helped increase their competence, productivity, and competitiveness.

Hartarto further said that the program is one of the most massive government-to-people (G to P) programs compared to other countries.

The Pre-Employment Card Program was launched by President Joko Widodo in 2019 with the aim of improving the quality of human resources.

After two years of implementation, the program, which is in the form of training before entering the workforce, has reached its 32nd batch, with the number of beneficiaries crossing 12.8 million.

After participating in a dialogue with the program alumni on Friday, Widodo said that the program has provided certain benefits, which were conveyed in the President’s conversation with four alumni on stage.

“It (the program) will be continued, as the budget for next year is ready,” Widodo informed.

“All (beneficiaries) need to be productive. Therefore, upskilling and reskilling are crucial for our country, and this nation’s key to advancement is its human resources. If there are many natural resources, but (they are) not supported by human resources, it means nothing. However, if the natural resources are supported well by humans, like (these people standing) beside me, the country will advance,” he added.

 

Source: Antara News

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Strengthening monitoring of elderly women’s health needed: BKKBN

The health of elderly women needs to be monitored more strongly because they face more risks that can affect their physical and emotional condition, the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) has said.

“Women’s life expectancy is much higher than men’s, so we certainly cannot ignore women’s health,” Head of BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo said at the “Independent, Prosperous, and Respected Elders in the Framework of the 26th National Elderly Day 2022” webinar here on Friday.

Although older women have a much higher life expectancy than older men, they are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, high blood pressure, as well as osteoporosis and bone fractures, he explained.

Women entering old age experience menopause, which stops the production of the estrogen hormone, which can causes soreness in the body and bone-related problems, he said.

Meanwhile, psychologically, during menopause, women tend to feel anxious, restless, excessively jealous, and stressed, he noted. This condition can lead to divorce, he said.

In 2021, the number of divorced couples reached about 580 thousand, and the total number of couples who filed for divorce was more than 600 thousand, according to him.

Moreover, Indonesian elderly women are more vulnerable due to the high number of cases of breast and cervical cancer, which raise the risk of mortality and morbidity, he informed.

“Indonesia must be vigilant because this condition is different from other countries that have much better preventive and early detection efforts,” he said.

Therefore, Wardoyo asked local governments to strengthen the Elderly Development Program for Families (BKL) so that Indonesian elders can live a more resilient, independent, healthy, and productive life.

“These things are very complex that can influence diseases to emerge in old age, such as psychotic depression and mental disorders that need to be anticipated after menopause,” he added.

 

Source: Antara News

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RUU KIA: Women’s commission welcomes 6-month maternity leave provision

The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has welcomed the provision for six-month maternity leave in the Mother and Child Prosperity Bill (RUU KIA).

“I think that it is a good idea to ensure maternity rights for women workers,” the commission’s chairperson, Andy Yentriyani, noted here on Friday.

However, the commission said that, should the idea be implemented, there must be an assurance that it will not affect women’s careers, given that they will be on leave for half a year.

The bill also states that, while on maternity leave, workers would still need to be paid, Yentriyani noted.

The bill states that during the first three months of the leave, the workers will receive 100 percent salary, and during the next three months, they will get 70 percent salary, she said.

The commission realizes that there will be many challenges in the implementation of this regulation.

For instance, if a worker goes through several pregnancies, she will need long-term maternity leave, which can affect the company where she is employed.

Therefore, the commission has urged the government to make an effort so that companies that employ women become capable of executing the regulation.

The commission has also asked that the idea be discussed by considering the possible challenges to its implementation.

Yentriyani also emphasized the importance of other family members’ involvement in realizing the prosperity of mothers and children.

While the bill provides for six-month paid maternity leave for women, it does not stipulate leave for fathers in detail, she noted.

The commission believes that, while there will be many challenges that will emerge during the discussion of the Mother and Child Prosperity Bill, the DPR will receive many inputs from various parties to complete the bill.

 

Source: Antara News

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Mahathir accepts NasDem invite to address party meeting

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited Indonesia at the invitation of the National Democrat (NasDem) Party to deliver a general lecture at the party’s national working meeting on Friday.

“This time Mahathir Mohamad is paying a friendship visit to meet the NasDem Party’s invitation,” Chairperson of the NasDem Party Surya Paloh told the press at the NasDem Central Executive Board Office or NasDem Tower in Jakarta on Friday.

Mahathir was invited to deliver a general lecture at the NasDem’s national working meeting. “This is a very valuable momentum for NasDem to boost our spirit and motivation,” he added.

Mahathir is a national figure who always inspires all people, he said.

NasDem is highly grateful to Mahathir for his readiness in accepting the invitation and to take a chance to visit NasDem Tower despite being 96 years old, he added.

“With his present condition of that age, let us pay our excellent respect to him,” he remarked.

Paloh, who has personally been friends with Mahathir for 40 years now, expressed his gratitude for the friendly visit.

Meanwhile, Mahathir thanked God and said he was happy that he could meet with his old friend, Paloh, and see the current progress in Indonesia for himself.

Mahathir said he was also pleased to see the progress made by NasDem Party under Paloh’s leadership.

The former Malaysian premier said his meeting with Paloh at NasDem Tower was to discuss conditions in Indonesia and Malaysia as well as recall the early days of their acquaintance.

He expressed the hope that his friendship with Paloh would also enhance friendly ties between the two neighboring countries.

“We hope we can contribute to the friendship between Malaysia and Indonesia,” he remarked.

 

Source: Antara News

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Indonesia set to host 1st G20 finance, health ministerial meeting

Looking to strengthen the global health architecture, the Indonesian G20 Presidency will bring stakeholders from the finance and health sectors together in a series of meetings in Yogyakarta on June 20 and 21, 2022.

The series of meetings will include the First Health Ministerial Meeting and the First Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting.

“The First Health Ministerial Meeting will be followed by the First Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting,” Indonesian spokesperson for the G20 forum, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, informed at a press conference on the pre-event of the First Health Ministerial Meeting, which was accessed online from here on Friday.

The health ministerial meeting would be attended by a number of delegates from G20 nations, the Global Fund, as well as the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), she informed.

Furthermore, Secretary General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Richard Hatchett; as well as Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, will also attend the meeting.

Tarmizi said that the meeting will discuss G20 attempts to strengthen the global health architecture by building a health security system, harmonizing the health protocols, and strengthening the pharmaceutical industry.

“In addition, harmonization of the COVID-19 health protocols and the standardization of international travel documents will be discussed in the meeting,” she added.

The meeting will also deliberate on a universal vaccine certificate verification method that pays attention to data safety, capacity, affordability, and ethical issues.

Its participants are also scheduled to discuss the Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF) for mobilizing funding sources through a more permanent mechanism.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the G20 had the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) as an ad hoc body. It is attempted that the body will become more permanent to mitigate future pandemics,” the spokesperson said.

In addition, the information-sharing scheme on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data through the implementation of GISAID Plus will be discussed so that various types of pathogens, viruses, and bacteria that have the potential to cause a pandemic can be detected.

“Currently, Indonesia has partaken in sharing the data, namely regarding the influenza virus,” Tarmizi added.

The series of meetings are expected to generate an agreement on new methodologies in research and development, which will be funded at the global, national, sub-national, and community levels by involving policy makers in the health and financial sectors.

 

Source: Antara News

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Mahathir Mohamad praises President Jokowi’s leadership

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has praised the leadership of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), which he has described to be on the right track.

Mahathir lauded President Jokowi’s leadership while giving a public lecture at the National Working Meeting of NasDem Party at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta on Friday.

He said, from his observations, as well as what he has heard, Indonesia, under the leadership of President Jokowi, is running on a reasonable basis.

The success of Jokowi’s leadership certainly cannot be separated from the NasDem Party and Surya Paloh as the leader of the party, he added.

Malaysia is also proud when Indonesia achieves success and its people prosper because the victories will be felt and enjoyed by all the people of Indonesia, he added.

Speaking at the event, he also shared his thoughts on what makes a good leader. He said that a leader must have national leadership.

To achieve this, the leader must understand the thoughts of his people. After that, he must empathize with the plight of the people and be willing to fight for their future.

The decisions and the basis introduced must include the majority of the people, without prioritizing the interests of one group, he said.

He emphasized that national leadership requires courage in making decisions and taking actions that must be carried out for the benefit of the community.

Many leaders, he said, do not have the courage and seek the easy way. As a result, people become complacent, and unknowingly, the state also gets damaged. “At that time, the people will pay a very high price,” he said.

He emphasized that a leader who has the trust of the people must be trustworthy. Therefore, leaders need to continue to seek and increase their knowledge.

Progress can be achieved if the leader has ideas and regular plans for the development of the country. These plans need a long-term and short-term approach, Mahathir remarked.

 

Source: Antara News

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