The Ministry of Social Affairs Reaffirms Its Commitment to Prevent Children from the Impact of COVID-19

JAKARTA (25 July 2020) - Indonesia is currently still battling COVID-19. The positive number continues to increase significantly, as does the number of victims who died. Quoted from the page of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force (covid19.go.id) as of July 24, 2020, the number of confirmed positive cases was 95,418 people, 53,945 people recovered, and 4,665 people died. Based on this data, extra caution is needed from all levels of society in implementing the health protocol for handling COVID-19 in their daily activities. Especially for vulnerable ages such as children, so they require special attention and supervision from parents.
 
The Director General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat in a Talk Show with the theme "Child Protection in a Pandemic Period" with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) which was broadcast live from Graha BNPB explained the various efforts that have been made in child protection.
 
Talk Show hosted by dr. Vito Anggrani Damay was also attended by the Daily Coordinator of the Tulungagung Integrative Social Welfare Program (PKSAI), Sunarto Agung Laksono. This talk show aims to provide information as well as understanding to the public that child protection carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs is comprehensive, starting from preventive, curative, rehabilitative, to follow-up post-rehabilitation.
 
"Children are part of the victims associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic. When the current data has more than 95,000 confirmed COVID-19 and of those tens of thousands, there will certainly be children who are exposed to COVID-19 either as victims, being treated , as well as children who are in difficult situations because the caregivers are also exposed to COVID-19," said Harry at the beginning of the Talk Show.
 
Harry in the Talk Show with BNPB also revealed that the social impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were very diverse, including disruption to basic services, education, and playgrounds. In addition, the risk of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, psychological stress on children and negative effects on child development. It is also possible that it will cause stress for parents or caregivers.
 
"When the PSBB policy is implemented, of course there are children's rights that they have received that have not been fulfilled in such a way for the safety of children in terms of health. The right to go to school can still be fulfilled but online, but in the psychological development of children when they are attending school online , of course, the situation is different when children can interact directly with their children, teachers, and the environment, there is even a play situation," he continued.
 
The Ministry of Social Affairs through the Directorate of Child Social Rehabilitation responded to this impact by making various efforts, including ensuring that children receive proper care through case response activities by the Social Worker Service Unit (strengthening caregiving, seeking care when the child or parent is ODP, PADP, positive or dead) In addition, it also provides social assistance for children and parents who have lost their jobs, ensures equal access to quality education services, prevention and response to violence against children, ensures children receive proper health services, gives priority to children living in disaster-prone areas. , and ensure that the rights of children with disabilities can be fulfilled.
 
"In general, the government's efforts, especially in handling or preventing and protecting children from the impact of COVID-19, there are direct efforts to children who are exposed and this is carried out by Social Workers throughout Indonesia based on complaints reports as well as referrals. There are social rehabilitation for children and social welfare institution for children that can be mobilized to anticipate if there is a worst risk to children," concluded Harry.
 
"Children exposed to COVID-19 are not only provided with medical services, but also need psychosocial support services by Social Workers. There are 346 positive COVID-19 children who are directly handled by Social Workers, this situation makes them also experience something that is not easy when they have to separated from the parents while the assistant at a certain referral hospital, there should not be a companion outside of the patient. Now, this requires an understanding that the child must understand that in a difficult situation he must lose care, but on the other hand, parents must also be able to understand that such a situation cannot be too close to children. For that we also approach not only children who are victims but also their parents and families, namely through the media of Telephone Friends of Children, "he explained.
 
Child Social Service Telephone (TEPSA) is a medium used for referrals and complaints then followed up by Social Workers in the form of Case Management. TEPSA can be accessed at 1500771 to submit complaints, one of which is regarding COVID-19. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Directorate of Child Social Rehabilitation has made guidelines for Social Workers in handling children exposed to COVID-19 and their families.
 
"These guidelines are not only carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs, we also have full support from the BNPB Task Force, and also from UNICEF or from other international institutions such as the Sayangi Tunas Cilik Foundation or Save The Children," explained Harry.
 
dr. Vito, who guided the event, responded very positively to various explanations regarding the handling of child protection during the COVID-19 pandemic that was conveyed by Harry.
 
"as a parent, for hearing this, of course I feel very relieved, I am sure that parents in all places will feel relieved because the government has prepared these various programs because personally I have experience dealing with pediatric patients affected by COVID-19. because they have to work and their mother is also sick, who will helpthem. Social Worker is really needed here," said dr. Vito.
 
On this occasion, Harry also explained that the Ministry of Social Affairs is currently strengthening its resource system, such as PKSAI, LKSA, Rehabilitation Center, or Children's Social Institutions. No less than 32 thousand institutions have received circulars of parenting protocols and information regarding children or families who need assistance. Prevention efforts are also carried out through Family Support as described in the Social Safety Net (JPS).
 
"There are 10 million families who receive conditional cash social assistance through the Family Hope Program, then there are also around 20 million families who receive food social assistance. This will support the fulfillment of basic needs including the needs of children," added Harry.
 
Various efforts to protect children during the COVID-19 pandemic have been carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Directorate of Child Social Rehabilitation, but the role of the government alone is not enough to solve various problems. Therefore, the participation of every community who is also at the forefront in fighting COVID-19 is very important by actively participating in providing protection for children and continuing to implement health protocols that have been done together long before.