Puan Maharani Says DPR Is Fighting For The MCH Bill, Pregnant Women Can Apply For 6 Months Leave

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, said that the Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare (RUU KIA) is being fought for, including regarding six months of leave for mothers after giving birth.

The goal, so that the closeness of mother and child can be more intertwined.

This was conveyed by Puan while attending the People's Health Service Innovation Festival which was held in the framework of the 2022 Bung Karno Month at the PDIP DPP Party School, Lenteng Agung, Jakarta, Saturday, June 18.

"In the DPR RI, we are fighting for the Law on Maternal and Child Welfare, which will allow mothers to give birth, God willing, from three months to six months," said Puan.

Puan said that three months of leave for maternity mothers is actually sufficient.

"Three months of leave is enough, but if you can six months, why not," he said.

"And in the next three months, will it be WFH, still working but with the baby. This is important, so that the closeness between mother and child can be closer, can provide more breast milk," continued the Chair of the PDI-P DPP.

In addition, in the draft law, the role of the father figure will also be more regulated.

"So we support all of that," said Puan.

Meanwhile, Head of the BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo said the government is grateful to the PDI-P, especially Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri who always pays attention to the handling of stunting and maternal and child health.

In fact, Megawati is also appreciated for making a food recipe book for two-year-old babies and pregnant women.

"Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri made an extraordinary book, this is a recipe book for food for baduta and pregnant women from Mrs. Megawati. Yes, it is extraordinary," said Hasto.

Stunting, continued Hasto, could be from short people, although short people do not necessarily suffer from malnutrition. Thus, this problem must be addressed.

At least, there are three things that cause stunting to be a concern. First, due to stunting a person becomes difficult to compete.

"It's hard to be a TNI, Polri is also difficult. Wanting to have a crush on a flight attendant is also hesitant because we are not confident," he said with a laugh.

Then, stunting makes a person's level of intelligence low.

"Third, it's easy to get sick. If a stunted person at the age of 45 is already centrally obese or swollen or fat but in the middle. People who are fat in the middle are prone to high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and others. Therefore, it is not of high quality, "he said.

With this condition, the government seeks to educate mothers in raising their children.

Moreover, according to the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) the number of stunting in Indonesia must decrease to 14 percent.

"Today we are still at 24.4 percent. Hopefully in 2024 it will reach 14 percent," concluded Hasto.