Social Affairs Minister Takes a Breakthrough by Building Social Granaries to Overcome Leprosy Case

BARITO KUALA (12 June 2024) –Ministry of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini took a breakthrough by building some social granaries to overcome the highest cases of leprosy in Barito Kuala Regency South Kalimantan. From these social granaries, it is hoped that there will be no more difficulty for leprosy patients to get utilities and personal hygiene tools.

“If you Mr/Madam have difficulty getting soap, towels, and others, you can go to the social granaries. We provided for you,” said Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini when visited the ongoing construction and checked the availability stock at Social Granaries in Barito Kuala Granaries, on Tuesday afternoon (11/6).

Ministry of Social Affairs has built more than 600 social granaries spread throughout Indonesia, especially in disaster-prone areas. Social Granaries include some food needs, beds, blankets, medicine, family kits, baby equipment, and various other things that are needed by communities when disaster happens. The purpose of these social granaries is to distribute faster the logistical needs of disaster survivors. However, in Barito Kuala Regency, it is prioritized to build social granaries to prevent and overcome the spread of leprosy cases which has a high number of cases. Even though it is not the highest in South Kalimantan, the number of leprosy survivors in Barito Kuala Regency is 58 persons. Besides, there are also 281 persons with disability and 35 cataract survivors.

The high number of leprosy cases in the district is partly due to the community's habit of bathing in the river. In addition, there is no awareness in the community that leprosy sufferers should not use towels and other toiletries together to prevent transmission. “Now the Ministry of Social Affairs has provided various toiletries, bedding, medicines and various other needs. If your equipment runs out, you can ask for it from the social barn. So do not mix with other family members, so as not to get infected,” said Social Affairs Minister Risma reminded.

Social Granaries built by the Ministry of Social Affairs are located in 3 locations, such as at Ulu Benteng Subdistrict Marabahan District, Sungai Pitung Village Alalak District, and Teluk Tambah Village Tabukan District. These granaries are managed by the community and monitored by the Health Service and Village Officer. Various things are provided in this social granary, such as nutrition, personal hygiene tools, cutlery, toiletries, clothes, bedding, masks, disinfection, and medicine. The Social Affairs Minister stated that logistics and equipment in social granaries have to be filled so that they can be distributed to the needy.

The Head of Sungai Pitung Village, Fahmi, expressed his gratitude to Social Affairs Minister Risma for the social granary in his village. The social granary has inspired the village community to build similar barns for other needs, especially to overcome the needs of the community during flood disasters that often occur in the area.