City to Improve Elderly's Health

Jakarta Provincial Government will seek to improve the health of elderly people in the capital city. To that end, heads of RT, RW, urban village, and sub-district in Jakarta are asked to pay attention to the elderly in their area.

We do not want starving elderly. They must be taken care so that we will forcibly heads of RT, RW, urban village, and sub-district to must know where the problem is and take care of the elderly

“We do not want starving elderly. They must be taken care so that we will forcibly heads of RT, RW, urban village, and sub-district to must know where the problem is and take care of the elderly. If they do not want to help, we just fired them. They should know exactly the ill elderly and those who need wheelchairs and sticks,” stated Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Acting Jakarta Governor at 18th National Elderly Day in Bina Insan Bangun Daya 2 Social Institution, Cipayung, East Jakarta, Wednesday (6/18).

He stated that the concern on elderly is not only on national day. Therefore, Basuki requested that the elderly in the capital whose lives are less fortunate should not be neglected.

Jakarta towards Child-Elderly Friendly City

"Through this forum, I told you if anyone needs wheelchair and stick aid, please report to local heads of urban village and sub-district. If you cannot report, write a letter to me. If there is no budget, use my budget. We will help at our best so there is no one in difficulty," Basuki stated.

The former of Belitung Timur Regent also asked the elderly to pray for him to perform the task in Jakarta straightly.

"We need your pray since this is the era of an awful technology. We easily get slipped. Many officials ended up in KPK and jails. Your pray is needed for us so that we can wisely run the government administration and social justice, making your brain, wallet and your stomach filled all,” added Basuki.

Basuki also warned social institution managers not to circumcise the feeding budget for the elderly since the given budget from the city government is also very large.

In HLUN event, Basuki also handed aid of 20 wheelchairs, sticks, and independence elderly tools worth Rp 1 billion. At the end of the event, the elderly showed angklung performance playing three songs, namely Sirih Kuning, Rek Ayo Rek, and Kapan-kapan.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of Community Care of Jakarta Development (MPPJ), Arman Zakaria, welcomed the Basuki’s concern on the elderly in the city. According to him, the proposal in increasing health and welfare of the elderly needs to be appreciated, because it is already part of the government's responsibility to its people as mandated by law.

“If it is needed, we push this to be part of city government’s policy. Technically done by Social Department, but the things which have not been regulated its implementation by Social Department, can ask the instructions of Acting Governor or Acting Secretary. The Acting Governor’s proposal should be responded by RT/RW and urban village to determine the terms and other conditions,” completed the man who used to be called ustad.