Millions Of Indonesian Children Addicted To Cigarettes, Jokowi Asked For Immediately PP Derivatives Of The Health Law

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION/Kristaps Solims

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) in 2023 revealed the number of active smokers in Indonesia as many as 70 million people. Meanwhile, 7.4 percent of them or more than one million children are in the age range 10-18 years.

The government and the DPR have actually passed Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health. The law mandates local governments to make regulations regarding non-smoking areas.

However, until now government regulations that are derivative regulations of the Health Law have not been ratified. President Joko Widodo was also asked to immediately sign the draft PP.

"It is important for the government to ratify the Health RPP in the hope that it can strengthen regulations so that children avoid the dangers of smoking," said Project Officer of Lentera Anak Bagja Nugraha in his statement, Thursday, July 25.

On the one hand, adults must also provide an environment free of smoking for children. Executive Director of the Indonesian Youth Council for Tactical Changes (IYCTC) Manik Marganamahendra emphasized the importance of banning the sale of cigarettes within a radius of 200 meters from school.

This, according to him, is important because one of the reasons for the high number of child smokers is due to easy access.

"Similarly, the cigarette industry has succeeded in creating a narrative that normalizes the smoking culture among children. In fact, a smoker is an industrial victim. Therefore, the government must act decisively by making policies that favor children," he explained.

Meanwhile Project Lead for Tobacco Control CISDI Belidenta Amalia explained that the availability of cheap cigarette prices and sales of cigarette bars made cigarettes easy for children to reach.

According to him, such marketing tactics are part of the industrial camouflage targeting children in general.

"Tactics targeting children can be seen from advertisements, promotions, sponsorship, such as through badminton auditions held by Djarum, there are also other tactics, namely the availability of various flavors in nicotine / tobacco products and attractive packaging," explained Beladensta.