Sakti Peksos Accelerates Distribution and Dissemination of 11 Thousand KIE Packages

JAKARTA (August 11, 2020) - Social Worker Service Unit (Sakti Peksos) of the Directorate of Child Social Rehabilitation, Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia accelerated the distribution and dissemination of 11 thousand Communication, Information and Education (KIE) packages for all Child Welfare Institutions (LKSA).

The IEC package is a support from Unicef ​​Indonesia which gives special attention to children in care outside the family, especially in LKSAs. They are one of the most vulnerable groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of health and welfare aspects.

The IEC package consists of 3 booklets, namely (1) Guidelines for Protecting Children from the Threat of COVID-19 in Children's Centers/Workshops, LKSAs, and other childcare institutions, (2) Information on Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) and (3) Information on the Prevention of Violence, Mistreatment and Exploitation of Children.

Guidelines for Protecting Children from the Threat of COVID-19 in Children's Centers/Loka, LKSA, and other childcare institutions, contain basic information that can be a reference for every administrator, manager, or caregiver, as well as children. This guideline aims to maintain safety and health and ensure the protection of children in the Balai/Loka/LKSA environment, especially during the emergency period to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.

Information on Clean and Healthy Life Behavior (PHBS) as a form of strengthening the capabilities of children and families. PHBS aims to provide learning experiences or create conditions for LKSAs and children to increase knowledge, attitudes and behavior so that they are able to practice clean and healthy living behaviors. The consistent implementation of PHBS will create a culture of clean and healthy living in the family and LKSA. In addition, PHBS can create children who grow and develop healthily and have adequate nutritional intake.

Information on Prevention of Violence, Mistreatment and Exploitation of Children describes efforts to protect children from violence and discrimination so that they can live, grow, develop, and participate optimally. Parents and caregivers must adopt friendly practices and behaviors that do not tolerate or abstain from any form of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.

Director of Child Social Rehabilitation, Kanya Eka Santi said that the distribution and dissemination of the IEC package was an effort to support LKSAs in preventing and handling COVID-19 and preventing children from becoming victims of violence.

"In addition, because the activities are carried out simultaneously by all social workers reaching LKSAs, including those in remote areas, this is also part of updating LKSA data," said Kanya.

Kanya added, based on LKSA data that has been recorded in DTKS, there are still many LKSAs that have not entered. On the other hand, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several LKSAs sent their children home, and even stopped providing assistance to the community. Therefore, it is very important to update the data.

In its implementation, the Supervisor (SPV) of Sakti Peksos acts as the coordinator of distribution arrangements regarding excess or shortage of IEC packages between regencies/cities. "In addition to dissemination, SPV is the coordinator of the IEC package. Our region received 250 packages for 139 LKSAs, 111 non-LKSAs in 19 regencies/cities," said SPV, West Sumatra Social Worker, Wulan Purnamasari.

Sakti Peksos Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, Aya Soraya said this was very beneficial for LKSAs. "This IEC package is able to increase the capability and readiness of LKSAs in preventing and overcoming the spread of COVID-19. All LKSAs would like to thank the Ministry of Social Affairs for this IEC package, so that LKSAs can recognize the impact of COVID-19 on children and anticipate with appropriate actions to ensure safety and well-being. continuity of children's growth and development," said Aya.

The distribution of the IEC package was carried out in 469 regencies/cities by Sakti Peksos. In addition, she is also tasked with providing a brief explanation of the material for the IEC package to the LKSA management.