Social Minister Asks Local Governments To Accelerate Data Collection On Children Affected By The Pandemic

Social Minister Tri Rismaharini/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Social Minister Tri Rismaharini asked local governments to speed up data collection for children who lost their parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To keep them motivated, they can go to school, because they will receive social assistance so they can go to school," he said while giving a press statement at the Jakarta Police's Lemdiklat Field, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, November 1.

He said there were approximately 24,000 children who had lost their parents due to COVID-19. However, said Meensos, this figure still needs further verification.

The Ministry of Social Affairs seeks a budget to provide assistance to them.

In addition, Risma said it was important to raise the spirit of children who lost their parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic to live a further life, including education.

The Minister of Social Affairs said that after children experience shock due to the loss of their parents, therapy and psychosocial support services are needed so that they can bounce back.

"What I learned, especially those who are still in school, are very shocked, because they think they can still go to school or not (after losing their parents, ed.)," said Risma.

The need to raise the spirits of children called Risma can be up to 50 percent, compared to other needs.

If children go into shock, he said, it will be difficult to develop as adults to optimize their capacities and abilities.

Therefore, Risma is grateful for the support of psychosocial services carried out by members of the National Police throughout Indonesia for children, adolescents, and people with disabilities who are affected by COVID-19.

"I think that's what's important, so I thank the police officers who are working throughout Indonesia to respond to this," he said.

The National Police together with relevant ministries and institutions provide psychosocial support simultaneously in 34 provinces to toddlers, children, youth and people with disabilities who have lost their parents due to the impact of COVID-19 as many as 2,333 people.

They consist of 2,138 children, 195 disability groups, and 48 accompanying parents. The National Police also provides psychological counseling services for accompanying parents.