MoSA Assists Suhardi and Family After Carrying Paralyzed Child While Selling Tissues Video Viral on TikTok

JAKARTA (May 12, 2023) - Ministry of Social Affairs is helping the family of Suhardi (49), after a video went viral of him selling tissues while carrying his paralyzed child, Rehan. The Ministry is providing assistance for entrepreneurship, accessibility and other supporting assistance.

To facilitate and maximize handling, Suhardi's family has now been taken to the Handayani Bambu Apus Center, East Jakarta. Not only Rehan (16), his older sister Sulistri (17), and her two younger siblings Nelisa (8) and Rani (6) were given temporary housing at the center and undergone health care assistance.

"I built a house, then I gave capital for your business. You have to be as strong as a rock. You must take care of your little brother. All of us will help him until he can stand. I will help with equipment (for your little brother)," said Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini to Sulistri in Jakarta, Thursday (11/05).

Social Affairs Minister Risma has also instructed the ranks of the Ministry to repair Suhardi's house through the Integrated Welfare House (RST), water, and electricity, as well as business capital assistance for Suhardi.

Through Handayani Center in Jakarta, Ministry of Social Affairs has coordinated with the Head of the Pesawaran Social Office together with the Village, and the local Sub-district Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) for population registration through the issuance of Birth Certificates and matching of Family Certificate (KK) to the Population and Civil Registration Service (Disdukcapil) to facilitate access to receive assistance.

Meanwhile, through the Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Victims, the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for the Disabled (RSPD), and the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for the Elderly (RSLU), assistance was provided i.e. walker aids for Rehan and Nelisa, assistance in registering for BPJS Kesehatan, household assistance i.e. household equipment, cupboards and mattresses, provision of entrepreneurship assistance i.e. 40 laying hens, assistance in fulfilling basic needs for grandmothers, namely food, assistance in preparing to enter school for Rehan, Nelissa, Rani, and preparation for continuing Package B school for Sulistri along with money worth IDR1.8 million.

To Sulistri, Ministry of Social Affairs also provided assistance i.e. business capital at home so that she could continue to help care for her younger siblings.

"So later I will continue to monitor and prepare so that we can build your house. Later we will see the developments while you work there and take care of your younger siblings. Show that you can, later your father will also receive business capital assistance," said the Minister of Social Affairs to support Sulistri.

Previously, Ministry of Social Affairs team conducted an assessment of Suhardi's family after receiving a report from the public. Suhardi works as a vegetable farmer and garden laborer with an average income of IDR 500,000/month.

Suhardi is separated from his wife and has to take care of his four children. The first child, Sulistri, dropped out of 2nd grade of junior high school. The second child, Rehan, has nerve damage so he has not been able to walk and speak clearly since he was 6 years old. The third child, Nelisa has a physical disability, and the fourth child, Rani, is still 6 years old and has never attended school. Suhardi and his four children live in his parents' house which is not habitable, namely with fragile wooden walls that already have many holes.

After meeting Suhardi's children on the same day, Social Affairs Minister Risma met Alifa and Khairunia, two toddlers with eye cancer (retinoblastoma) who have been receiving treatment at the Pangudi Luhur Integrated Center (STPL) Bekasi. Not only that, Social Affairs Minister Risma also gave the name "Chantika Budi Luhur Wati" to a 3-week-old baby found in Bekasi Regency. Since being referred by the Bekasi Regency Social Office, the baby is now receiving care and foster care at the Pangudi Luhur Integrated Center.

Also accompanying the Minister of Social Affairs' Special Advisor (SKM) for Communication and Mass Media Don Rozano Sigit Prakoeswa, SKM for Social Welfare Service Needs Luhur Budijarso, SKM for Empowerment and Handling of the Poor Doddi Madya Judanto, SKM for Human Resource Development and Ministry Programs Suhadi Lili, SKM for Foreign Institution Relations and Partnerships Faozan Amar, and the High-Level Leadership of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs.