Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government is prioritizing improving the welfare of school-aged children and adolescents to realize a great and quality generation, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has said.
“Children’s welfare is one of the priority programs,” Deputy for the Coordination of Health Quality Improvement and Population Development at the ministry Agus Suprapto said at a high-level meeting on improving the welfare of school-aged children and adolescents here on Thursday.
The government, through the relevant ministries and institutions as well as local governments, has continued to strengthen the National Action Plan for Improving the Welfare of School-Aged Children and Adolescents (RAN Pijar), he informed.
“This is in accordance with Ministerial Regulation No. 1 of 2022 concerning local governments to continuing to strengthen the National Action Plan for Improving the Welfare of School-Aged Children and Adolescents,” he said.
RAN Pijar aims to improve the health and nutritional status of school-aged children and adolescents, he added.
“Moreover, (it seeks) to ensure that school-aged children and adolescents have the opportunity to contribute positively to their families, communities, and environments,” he said.
The action plan also aims to create a safe environment and support the development and skills of children and teenagers attending school, which includes improving access to quality education.
Furthermore, he said, RAN Pijar has the purpose of increasing the resilience and capacity of school-aged children and adolescents in terms of reproductive health.
“In implementing RAN Pijar, the government is striving to strengthen commitment, coordination, and cooperation across sectors and stakeholders,” he said.
The government is also trying to improve access to health and nutritional services that support the growth of school children, he added.
“In addition, (it is working on) strengthening and developing information systems, data, research, and innovation in the program development,” Suprapto said.
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