Day: June 11, 2023

Banten (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Health assisted the tribal people of Badui Dalam (Inner Baduy) in Lebak, Banten, to obtain citizens’ identity card numbers (NIK) so that they can be eligible for National Health Insurance (JKN).”Badui Dalam is facilitated to become JKN fee assistance recipients to get free health services,” the ministry’s Head of Communication and Public Service Bureau Siti Nadia Tarmizi said here on Sunday. Some 200 Inner Baduy and Outer Baduy people had lined up to get their data taken by the Lebak District Population and Civil Registration Office since Saturday (June 10). The data collection was carried out until Sunday evening in Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar Sub-district. Head of Lebak District Population and Civil Registration Office Rahmat Nur Muhammad said that as of December 31, 2022, the number of Kanekes Village residents who had been recorded in the office was 5,211 people. “The target this time is 200 people to be recorded in the office. The data collection will continue to be carried out step-by-step,” he said. Head of JKN Division at Lebak Health Office Agus Rifki Hidayat said that not all of the 5,211 residents were registered as JKN fee assistance recipients. However, all Kanekes residents who have got their population data recorded by the office are certainly eligible to become JKN fee assistance recipients. fter the residents obtain their NIK, the population registry office will submit their data to the Lebak Health Office to be sent to state health insurer BPJS Kesehatan. If the JKN assistance fee is sourced from the provincial government’s budget, the citizen’s NIK will be handed over to them first and then to BPJS Kesehatan. One of the Baduy leaders, Mursid, said the Inner Baduy people want to get good and free health services. “Residents who need health services can take advantage of the BPJS,” he said. Sick Baduy residents will be treated traditionally first and will be referred to modern treatment through JKN if still not recovered.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has lauded the inauguration of floating hospitals Laksamana Malahayati (FHLM) and Kapal Kesehatan Rakyat, which will serve the residents of remote areas in the country.”Mr. President (Joko Widodo) always says that all actions must benefit the people,” he remarked at the inauguration of the ships at Tanjung Priok Port on Saturday. He noted that there are a number of philosophical reasons for choosing the name Laksamana (Admiral) Malahayati for the vessel, as she was a national hero who came from the far west of Indonesia. Malahayati was the chief of Inong Bale, a troop consisting of the widows of the late soldiers of the Aceh Sultanate, who fought against colonists around the 16th century. She was conferred the title of national hero by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in November 2017. Furthermore, the minister stated that the operation of Kapal Kesehatan Rakyat is very important, considering that Indonesia is a vast maritime country, with water covering two-thirds of its territory. “More ships like this should be built to serve more (remote) regions which are located quite far,” he said. FHLM is a 130-meter long ship that has a capacity of 200 beds. It is equipped with a full range of medical facilities, including operating rooms, laboratories, and a radiology department. The ship also has a helipad and a dock, which allows it to provide medical care in remote areas. It will have 12 crew members and carry 9 medical personnel, said the ship’s operation coordinator, Vice Admiral (retd.) Agus Setiadji. number of surgeries can be conducted on the floating hospital, including cleft lip and cataract surgeries. The vessel was inaugurated by the fifth Indonesian President, Megawati Soekarnoputri. The development of the ship was supported by the Mega Gotong Royong Foundation, a foundation under the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) led by Soekarnoputri. She said that the ship will visit various regions in the coastal areas of the western part of Indonesia, with its final destination at Malahayati Port, Aceh Besar district, Aceh province.

Source: Antara News Agency

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) – The Kupang city police on Saturday evening prevented 23 Indonesians suspected of hunting jobs illegally in Malaysia from boarding a passenger ship heading to North Kalimantan Province.”We know North Kalimantan shares border with Malaysia. That is why, we suspect that they will be sent to work in the neighboring country,” Kupang City Police Chief Senior Commissioner Rishian Krisna B said here Sunday. The cops stopped them before boarding MV Siguntang at Tenau Port in Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Saturday evening, because they were suspected of being undocumented migrant workers. The passenger vessel, which belongs to state-owned ship operator PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni), would depart for North Kalimantan, he said, adding that they are currently under the police custody. The police investigators continue to probe the case to uncover individuals who might have recruited them and attempted to send them to work illegally in Malaysia, he added. Several detainees told the police investigators that they did not know their recruiters. What they knew was that a person driving a rented car had picked them up from their accommodation in Alak Sub-district, he said. One of the detainees said he and his wife wanted to go to Kalimantan to find jobs while Yefrianus Berek, who is also under the police custody, said he was pledged to get employed in a palm plantation in Kalimantan. “I have been promised to get employed in a palm plantation in Kalimantan but I have yet to know how much I will be paid monthly,” Berek was quoted as saying. Berek said he felt shocked over his sudden arrest when arriving at Tenau Port. NTARA noted that human trafficking has become a hot issue in Indonesia and several other ASEAN member countries. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has even called on ASEAN member states to take firm action against any party involved in human trafficking crimes. Protection of migrant workers and human trafficking victims had become one of the main points during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on May 10-11, President Jokowi said recently. In addressing this issue, the Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) has urged job seekers aspiring to become migrant workers to utilize authorized recruitment to avoid human trafficking. “Victims of human trafficking do not have work contracts. They are traded, exploited, and forced to work for up to 20 hours a day,” the agency’s head, Benny Rhamdani, said recently. Rhamdani stressed that out of the nine million migrant workers abroad, only 4,727,382 had gone through authorized channels and were registered in their system, while the rest had resorted to illegal means.

Source: Antara News Agency

Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA) – The 42nd ASEAN Summit is expected toprovide a positive multiplier effect on the marketing of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) products, including those from Central SulawesiProvince, an official said.”With Indonesia holding ASEAN chairmanship, it is highly expected that the foreign tourist visits potential will spread to regions, including Central Sulawesi,” the province’s Head of Industry and Trade Office Richard Arnaldo said in Palu, on Sunday. He believes that such a trend will, in turn, provide positive impacts on the marketing of MSMEs products. This year, Indonesia holds the ASEAN chairmanship, and it has adopted the theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” that reflects its focus on the efforts to retain the bloc’s position as an economic growth center. t the 42nd ASEAN Summit from May 911 in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, the bloc’s leaders produced a number of important documents and statements, including the Declaration on Advancing Regional Payment Connectivity and Promoting Local Currency Transactions and the ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision. rnaldo said that many MSMEs actors sell their products in the province’s tourist destinations, so an increase in foreign tourists visits is expected to increase their income. With that in mind, the provincial government continues to provide assistance and training to MSMEs actors in Central Sulawesi, he noted. The trainings provided include efforts to encourage MSMEs actors to improve packaging technique, as well as optimize digital technology and marketplaces in a bid to boost their products’ competitiveness, Arnaldo outlined. He expressed his belief that by optimizing digital technology, the province’s MSMEs will be better prepared to face the digitalization era and develop their businesses, so their products can reach theASEAN market. Currently, he said, of around 11 thousand registered MSMEs, 171 of them have undergone a curation process to ensure that they will produce the finest products. “We truly hope that MSMEs can make the most of the opportunity when foreign tourists visit Indonesia. They (MSMEs) need to showcase their best products and make all-out promotion efforts,” he pointed out. He informed that a number of products of the MSMEs have been registered in marketplaces, including Bintang Harapan Coffee and Costa Coffee, which have managed to penetrate Asian markets. rnaldo also expressed hope that the 42nd ASEAN Summit will enable the province’s MSMEs to market their products in ASEANcountries.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawatihas invited the global community to narrow the gap between disaster technology and community understanding of disaster mitigation.”Early warning system will fail in preventing casualties if it is not supported by the understanding of disaster mitigation, awareness, skills, and the ability to respond quickly and appropriately,” Karnawati said here on Sunday. t the inaugural meeting of the panel on socioeconomic benefits (PSB) in Geneva, which she attended online, she stressed that weak anticipation, mitigation, and early warning of disasters can put a great risk on people’s life and the economy. She said developing countries that are highly prone to disasters have even higher risks of economic losses and casualties due to disasters. ccording to her, the earth’s current condition is increasingly complex, so it requires fast, precise, accurate, and systematic observations and data, in addition to technological innovation and reliable analysts and modeling. “This situation needs to be our concern together because if the gap widens, the technological advances become less meaningful,” she said. She said literacy and educational approaches are key to increasing understanding and the ability to use data and information produced by modern technology. t the World Meteorological Organization forum, Karnawati mentioned the Fisherman Weather Field School (SLCN) organized by BMKG to increase community literacy about weather and climate. SLCN is a low-cost effort but has a significant impact in increasing disaster mitigation within the community, she said. “One of the success stories of the SLCN was during the Seroja Cyclone that hit East Nusa Tenggara. One of the SLCN alumni saved villagers after receiving early warning information through WhatsApp messages,” she explained. To increase community literacy and capacity in mitigating and responding to early warning of disasters, all parties must be involved, not only the government, but also academicians, communities, organizations, media, to business entities, she reminded.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – A 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit Tomini Bay, Bone Bolango, Gorontalo, Sunday morning, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported.”By looking at the epicenter and the hypocenter, the earthquake was an intermediate type due to the slab deformation of the Sulawesi Sea plate,” Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Daryono said here on Sunday. The earthquake’s coordinates were recorded at 0.05 degrees South Latitude, 123.15 degrees East Longitude, 65 km to the southeast of Bonebolango City, Gorontalo, and at a depth of 141 km. “The result of the source mechanism analysis shows that the earthquake had an oblique normal fault mechanism,” Daryono said. The earthquake was felt in Gorontalo City, Gorolontalo District, and Luwuk, Banggai District, with an intensity scale of MMI I-II, meaning several people felt the vibrations and light and hanging objects swayed because of the tremors. s of Sunday morning, there have been no reports of damage caused by the earthquake. The modeling results also showed that the earthquake did not potentially cause tsunamis. “As of 09:10 a.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB), BMKG monitoring results have not shown any aftershock activity,” Daryono noted. BMKG advised the public to remain calm and not be affected by unreliable information and avoid cracked or damaged buildings due to earthquakes. The agency asked residents to check the conditions of the house first before entering and make sure they are earthquake-resistant. BMKG channels its official information at @infoBMKG on Instagram/Twitter; websites www.bmkg.go.id/inatews.bmkg.go.id, Related news: andgtovernment completes construction of houses for Cianjur quake victimsRelated news: BPBD confirms no damage, casualties so far from Mentawai quakeRelated news: Padang residents stay away from sea after Mentawai-Siberut quake: BNPB

Source: Antara News Agency

Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA) – Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has called on regional governments to make breakthroughs in the efforts to anticipate climate change effects and global food crisis threats.”We need ideas and breakthroughs. Every district must be able to become a food barn and promote the use of organic fertilizer,”Limpo remarked here on Saturday. Limpo made the encouragement on the occasion of the Millennial Farmer Ambassadors/Andalan Farmers professional meeting event organized by the ministry’s Agricultural Human Resource Counseling and Development Agency (BPPSDMP) through the Center for Agricultural Education. The event is part of the series of activities at the XVI Indonesian Farmers and Fishers National Week (Penas Tani) in Padang City, which is being held on June 10-15, 2023. In his speech, the minister reiterated that the world will face a global food crisis that will hypothetically lead to a decline of 30 percent in agricultural productivity. ccording to the minister, the millennial agriculture ambassadors have a strategic role in supporting the country’s agriculture sector. They are expected to become part of the farmer regeneration process and wield adequate capability of anticipating climate change and global food crisis, he said. “Millennial Farmer Ambassadors and Andalan Farmer Ambassadors are the future of this nation’s agriculture,” Limpo stressed. On the occasion, the minister called on farmers to make the most of the capital facilities provided by the government through the bank’s micro-credit (KUR). “Optimize KUR to run and develop agricultural businesses,” Minister Limpo said. Head of the ministry’s BPPSDMP Dedi Nursyamsi on the national week’s second day, Sunday, endeavored to motivate the ambassadors, saying that the future of Indonesia’s agricultural development is in their hands. “In the next 10 years, you will be the actors who take part in the farmer regeneration process. For that reason, you must be prepared to accept the baton,” he said. The ambassadors are expected to proactively spread inspirational words regarding agricultural management to a broader population. During the meeting event, the ministry also encouraged the ambassadors to explore ways to become strong farmers and entrepreneurs.

Source: Antara News Agency

Global food insecurity affected more people in 2022 than in 2019, according to the World Bank (WB), due to the COVID-19 outbreak, climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain disruptions, which sent food prices soaring. total of 345 million people in 82 countries were affected by global food insecurity in 2022, higher compared to 135 million people in 53 countries in 2019. The international financial institution also noted that the severe drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon and climate change has increased the threat of crop failure and hunger for people living in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asian countries. pproximately 80 percent of the global population facing the highest risk of food insecurity resides in those countries. So far this year, the average food inflation in Southeast Asian countries has reached 15 percent, according to information provided on the website of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Indonesia. The World Bank has predicted that by 2030, 43 million people in Africa might end up living below the poverty line if the issue is not properly addressed. Beyond African and Asian regions, climate change has also affected countries in North America and Europe, where 32 percent of agricultural land has faced the threat of flash droughts every year for the past few years, according to the World Economic Forum. The potential for drought may increase to 49 percent for North American countries and 53 percent for European countries by the end of this century. For this reason, tackling food insecurity in times of crises has become one of the agendas of Indonesia’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicenter of Growth.” Through its chairmanship, Indonesia is seeking more inclusive and integrated cooperation in energy security, financial stability, health, and food security. s defined at the 1996 World Food Summit, food security is a condition when all people have physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food, which can help them live an active and healthy life. Singapore was the ASEAN country with the highest rank on the 2022 Global Food Security Index, placing 28th with an overall score of 73.1. The index assessed the affordability, availability, quality and safety, as well as sustainability and adaptation of the food sector in 113 countries. mong other Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia ranked 41st with a score of 69.9, Vietnam 46th (67.9), Indonesia 63rd (60.2), Thailand 64th (60.1), the Philippines 67th (59.3), Cambodia 78th (55.7), and Laos 81st (53.1). Food Security Efforts in ASEAN Current global conditions, which have the potential to trigger a future food crisis, have led ASEAN countries to once again highlight the issue during Indonesia’s chairmanship of the grouping. The global food crisis of 20072008 encouraged ASEAN member countries to develop the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AISF) Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security to ensure food security in the region. The regional organization then implemented the 20092020 AISF Framework as well as the 20092013 and 20152020 Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security to achieve long-term food security and increase the welfare of farmers in Southeast Asian countries. This year, ASEAN countries discussed the development of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Times of Crises at the 43rd ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) meeting. ccording to the declaration, Southeast Asian countries will develop a cooperation network among various agriculture, trade, finance, and transportation-related institutions in the region to strengthen food security. The collaboration will also aim to bolster the regional supply chain and promote sustainable farming. SEAN leaders are expected to agree on the declaration, which is also one of the priority economic deliverables (PEDs) of Indonesia’s chairmanship, at the 43rd ASEAN Summit planned to be held in Jakarta in September 2023. The 43rd AFSRB meeting was held in Bogor district, West Java province, on June 7-8 and was attended by representatives from all ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the AFSRB Secretariat. The officials of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Secretariat, as well as the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat, were also present at the meeting. PTERR is a cooperation platform for ASEAN member countries, China, Japan, and South Korea to strengthen rice production and respond to emergency rice supply shortages in any member country. Meanwhile, AFSIS is a collaborative project among the ministries responsible for the agriculture and forestry sectors in ASEAN countries, China, Japan, and South Korea to collect, analyze, and disseminate information regarding food security in the region. Quoting President Joko Widodo, head of Indonesia’s National Food Agency (NFA), Arief Prasetyo Adi emphasized that the world is not safe from the threat of a food crisis. “We must be prepared to tackle the issue,” he remarked. Hence, Southeast Asian countries, as one of the regions most affected by food insecurity, must strive to anticipate the potential global food crisis as well as various other risks threatening the global food chain, he added. “I believe that one of the attempts to solve the food security issue is bolstering the commitment of ASEAN member countries by establishing the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on food security,” Adi continued. Therefore, ensuring the stability, availability, accessibility, and proper utilization of food reserves in the region is important, he stressed. The AFSRB meeting also discussed recent food issues in each member country so that the problems could be resolved through intergovernmental collaboration. di said that each country would convey which food commodities are needed the most by them, and the participants of the meeting would discuss how much food resources should be reserved. Regarding domestic food security, the NFA, as a governmental institution assigned to maintain food issues in Indonesia, is also making efforts to establish a national food reserve and distribution mechanism to mitigate the threat of a global food crisis, he informed. He said that to realize this effort, his agency is cooperating with several ministries, institutions, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), private sector players, academics, social communities, agricultural associations, and international stakeholders. It is hoped that the efforts of Southeast Asian countries can truly help realize a strong food security and reserve mechanism to tackle the threat of a global food crisis.

Source: Antara News Agency