Children, The Family and Health: What it Takes to Give Children Long Life
The Singapore Workshop: Indonesia - The Role of the Community in the Social Welfare Policies in Indonesia
Stretching from 6.08 Northern Latitude to 11.15 Southern Latitude and from 94.45 to 141.05 Eastern Latitude Indonesia forms the largest archipelago in the world consisting of over 13000 islands although only some ten thousand of them are inhibited. As part of the Asia Pacific cluster, Indonesia with a population of 220 million, makes it the 4th largest population in the world, where the majority live in only 6 to 7 of its largest islands.
Completely aware of the fact that a vast population without having a balanced and proportional set up will hamper the equilibrium and development of its community, our government is doing its utmost to control the growth of the population alongside improving the quality of life of the families and its mobilization towards a position of achieving the development and goal of the nation.
In connection with the agenda of this workshop a very high attention is paid by our Government to set up its welfare policies based on following legal back ups:
1. The Indonesian National Constitution of 1945 section 4, stating that the poor and neglected children will be cared for by the government.
2. Act No 6 of 1974 Ministry of Social Affairs, about the Social Welfare Regulation, on a community based and community conducted program.
3. Act No 4 of 1979 Ministry Social Affairs, on the Welfare and Right of the Child.
4. Act No 2 of 1989 Ministry of Education and Culture on the National Education Scheme including a compulsory Educational Program for children from the age of 6 up to 12 (Primary school level).
5. Act No 23 of 1992 Ministry of Health on the Health program of the Community
6. Act No. 10 of 1992 Ministry of Population and Environment and the population growth.
7. Act No 4 of 1997 Ministry of Social Affairs on the Right of Disabled Persons and all its implementing regulation.
In implementing all these efforts the government has established partners from Non Governmental sites/community.
At National level: National Council for Social Welfare as the only Non Governmental Organization Council on national level, acting as partner of the government in realizing the Social Welfare Development.
At Provincial level: Coordinating Body an Social Welfare as Coordinative members of the National Council acting as partner of the Governor of each of the 27 provinces in Indonesia going right down to the sub districts starting from grass root level in the community.
Examples of Implementation on Relevant Matters
I. Health Program
Special attention is paid to the most sensitive sectors of the community eg: Babies, Below 5, Pregnant mothers, and the like
1. Mother and child health program. Include antenatal, Neonatal care
2. Birth Control, including contraception methods
3. Immunization
4. Nutritional matters
5. Participation of the Community -> which has played a very or most significant role in our health development program through the “Community Health Center” programs using the Social Workers at sub district as well as at village level.
This is what among others has resulted into the significant drop of the babies/child mortality rate of 3,2% in the year 1976 (109 compared to 145 in 1967) and of 4,1% in 1990 (Population Census 1990)
II. Child Welfare Program
In continuing the protection to the child, campaigns are sustained to prevent child abuse in whatever form by establishing “Child Protection Programs”.
Also as result of family movements from village to cities (urbanization) the problem of “street children” is coped with by establishment of “open houses” caring and resocialising respective children, mostly done by social workers and the community who really cares.
III. Disability Welfare Program
A morbidity and disability study on households in 1995 shows an impairment and disability prevalence in 1000 household for children between 0 - 14 years
| for boys | for girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual: | 4 | 7 |
| Other psychological factors: | 11 | 6 |
On the other hand, from data collected by the Regional Coordinating Body on Social Welfare in Jakarta (BK3S DKI), a significant increase in the number of pupils enrolling into the Special Education System in Jakarta is shown, especially for children with Mental Retardation. A random sample study in Indonesia stated that the number of disabled persons is 3,1% or some 6 millions people. Out of it, the largest number is represented by the Mental Retardation group, who as we all know need advocacy depending on the grade of their disability, in many cases becoming “a forever child”.
Out of the 145 special schools in Jakarta run by NGO catering to children with visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical handicap and Mental Retardation, 83 are schools for MR Children with a number of 2000 pupils out of the total 4600 pupils.
This confirms the reason for my choice of working with Mental Retarded Children. With their low IQ (below 70) they need not only an extended length of study time, but an earliest intervention is a conditio sine Qua non in assisting them.
Hence in 1989, Special Olympics Indonesia, a special sport program for the mentally retarded, as the Indonesian chapter of Special Olympics International with its HQ in Washington DC, was established in Indonesia and has now sub chapters in 16 provinces in Indonesia. With an all the year round training program, our goal is:
1. Obtain health and physical fitness for children with MR starting at the age of 5 years and up (without limit).
2. Obtain discipline, poise and self confidence, so that they will and can belong to the community.
3. Keep the family, peers and siblings together, rather than considering the handicap or the MR child/person as a curse.
Last Modified: November 29, 2002