Ministry of Social Affairs Response to Conditions of Children with Physical Disabilities in Sukabumi

SUKABUMI (March 18, 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs through the Phala Martha Disability Center in Sukabumi responded to a child named Mukhlis Abdul Kholik (11 years old) who is often called Adul, a person with a physical disability who lives in Cibadak District, Sukabumi Regency.

The case response team from the Phala Martha Disability Center in Sukabumi, namely Abdul Karim Syauki S and Cep Yoga Firmansyah, visited Adul's house on Thursday (18/3). In general, Adul's psychological, social and spiritual condition is good and stable. Adul still goes to school as usual.

For their daily activities, Adul's parents, Mrs. Pipin, selling goods at home, while Dadan Hamdani, Adul's father, is a construction worker.

According to the statement from the case response team for the Phala Martha Disability Center in Sukabumi, access to Adul's house is via a small path that has been cast in concrete, but it is very small and narrow. It can only be accessed by one motorized vehicle.

Dadan said that his family had received assistance from the Family Hope Program (PKH) from the Ministry of Social Affairs since 2007 until now. In addition, Adul also received assistance from schools through the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) and Healthy Indonesia Card (KIS) programs.

However, he is worried about the continuation of Adul's education to the junior high school level. Adul still wants to continue his education, but does not have the equipments to move towards junior high school in the future.

Currently, assistive devices such as wheelchairs cannot be adapted to the geographical conditions and structure of Adul's house which is at a height. Then there are some stairs made of dirt to get to his house.

Not only that, the conditions in Adul's house are quite cramped so that wheelchair access also doesn't give Adul room to move. Even if he was given the assistance of a three-wheeled motorbike, it would not be possible because he was not old enough.

Another alternative is to avoid schools with long distances, is a school in a pesantren (boarding school). However, Adul's parents are constrained by costs. "It's true that he wants to stay in a boarding school, but we are afraid that it will be expensive," said Dadan.

Apart from being a physically disabled person, Adul also has a hernia that has not been treated. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Phala Martha Disability Center in Sukabumi will take steps to renovate the house and the road to the house so that it is accessible for Adul when using adaptive aids and coordinate with the Prof. Dr. Soeharso Surakarta Disability Center team to carry out therapy and provide adaptive assistive devices

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs will also coordinate with related parties to find solutions for the continuation of Adul's education and provide medical assistance for Adul's hernia operation.