MANADO (September 10, 2019) - 50 beneficiaries of the Community-based PLWHA Social Rehabilitation Program (Progres) and social welfare institutions received social assistance from the Ministry of Social Republic of Indonesia through the Social Rehabilitation Center for PLWHA "Wasana Bahagia" in Ternate.

The delivery of aid amounting to Rp.250,000,000 was symbolically handed over by the Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Social Deviance Issues (Tuna Susila) and Victims of Trafficking in Persons of the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Waskito Budi Kusumo to the Chairman of the Batamang Plus Manado Foundation. The activity was carried out in the meeting room of the "Tumou Tou" Manado Social Rehabilitation Center for People with Visual Sensory Disabilities (BRSPDSN).

Waskito Budi Kusumo hopes that the assistance can be optimized. "Every business of independence must be accompanied by a positive mindset or mindset because the knowledge of a businessman is to never give up (despair)," said Budi.

The independent business social assistance will then be distributed in the form of cash transfers to 50 beneficiaries with a value of Rp.5,000,000 each, by the Batamang Plus Foundation as partners, after they have participated in social guidance and skills activities. Assistance that has been received by the beneficiary must be used for business development in accordance with the previously agreed proposal.

Head of the Social Rehabilitation Center for ODHIV ‘Wasana Bahagia’ Ternate, Udan Suheli reported that the main objective of this program was to increase participants' social capacity and capability through providing social guidance related to education on HIV management and self-care for PLWHA.

"The social rehabilitation program for community-based PLWHA and social welfare institutions is a form of implementation of the TS and KPO Progres where Social Welfare Institutions are required to play an active role in providing services to PLWHA friends," Udan continued.

The delivery of social assistance for the business of independence was attended by representatives from the North Sulawesi Province Social Service, North Sulawesi Provincial Health Service, Batamang Plus Manado LKS, North Sulawesi Province HIV observers and all beneficiaries of program participants.