The Social Service Appreciates the Assistance for Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic

BANJAR (12th June 2020) – The assistance for handling the COVID-19 pandemic for neglected children in West Java has been distributed to 4468 children assisted by 360 Child Welfare Institutions (LKSA). This assistance comes from refocusing the budget of the Directorate of Children Social Rehabilitation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The head of the sub-directorate for Children Social Rehabilitation Institutions, Mokhamad Abduh and his team carried out the distribution of assistance in the areas of Tasikmalaya, Ciamis and Banjar. "The total assistance that we distributed was for 1086 assisted children with 82 LKSAs covering Tasikmalaya Regency, Tasikmalaya City, Ciamis Regency and Banjar City," said Abduh.

The first assistance distribution took place at the Tasikmalaya Regency Social Service with the amount of assistance for 506 children assisted by 38 LKSAs. This activity was attended by the Secretary of the Social Service, the Head of Social Rehabilitation, 38 LKSA representatives and The Social Worker Service Unit (Sakti Peksos) of Tasikmalaya Regency.

Tasikmalaya City as the next location to carry out the distribution of assistance is located at the Tasikmalaya City Social Service office. The distribution of assistance to 198 children assisted by 17 LKSAs was attended by the Head of Tasikmalaya City Social Service, 17 LKSA and Social Worker Service Unit of Tasikmalaya City.

"For LKSAs that have not received support from the Ministry of Social Affairs, they must enter LKSA data and children's data through the Social Welfare Information System New Generation (SIKS NG) application," Abduh appealed. The determination of recipients of assistance for handling the COVID-19 pandemic for children is based on Children's Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS).

Furthermore, Ciamis Regency, as the third location for this team to distributed assistance to 352 children assisted by 25 LKSAs at the Ciamis Regency District Social Service. The activity was attended by the Secretary of the Social Service and the staff, 25 heads of LKSA and The Social Worker Service Unit (Sakti Peksos) of Ciamis Regency.

"We appreciate the assistance that comes to Ciamis Regency in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic because many people difficult to fulfill their needs, especially for children," said the Secretary of the Social Service of Ciamis Regency, Nandang Nugraha.

In the Banjar City as the last location for the team to distribute assistance to 30 children assisted by 2 LKSAs at the Banjar City Social Service. The activity was attended by the Head of the Banjar Regency Social Service, 2 Heads of LKSA, The Social Worker Service Unit (Sakti Peksos) of Banjar Regency.

Head of the Banjar City Social Service, Asep Tatang Iskandar expressed his gratitude for the arrival of the team to distribute assistance. "Thank you for the attention of the Ministry of Social Affairs with this assistance, hopefully it can help meet the nutritional needs of children in LKSA," hoped Asep.

Abduh explained about the details of assistance in handling the COVID-19 pandemic for neglected children, in the form of packages to fulfill basic needs that meet minimum standards. The package for assistance per child for 300 thousand consists of rice, milk, sausage, cereal, biscuits, eggs and additional 2 boxes of soap per LKSA. The soap is a donation from Unilever through Unicef ​​Indonesia.

"The spearhead of the Directorate of Children Social Rehabilitation, that is The Social Worker Service Unit (Sakti Peksos), we hope to carry out their duties properly so that children are protected and their rights are fulfilled," said Abduh. Good cooperation and coordination between the Ministry of Social Affairs and local governments (Provincial/Regency/City Social Services) is needed in overcoming social problems, especially that faced by the children.