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09
November

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The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture emphasized the importance of the capacity to test, trace, and treat COVID-19 cases amid the emergence of the new Omicron sub-variant called XBB.

"Increase the number of tests, especially for those who are in close contact and for those who have comorbidities," the ministry's deputy for coordination of health quality improvement and population development, Agus Suprapto, stated here, Wednesday.

Suprapto remarked that increasing the capacity for testing, tracing, and treating COVID-19 cases is the main key to suppress the spread of the virus, including the XBB sub-variant.

"The more tests we have, the better. We must know the real number of cases in the community," Suprapto stated.

Moreover, improving the capacity of COVID-19 testing is also important during the transition period toward the endemic, he remarked.

"We also remind the public to help us in increasing the capacity for the number of COVID-19 tests. Those who experience COVID-19 symptoms may conduct independent testing," he remarked.

He also reminded the public regarding the increasing trend in COVID-19 cases following the emergence of several cases of the latest Omicron sub-variant.

"As the minister of health said that the upward trend in COVID-19 cases will reach its peak no later than early January of 2023. Of course, this needs to be a common concern," he emphasized.

The ministry also urged the public to continue to strengthen health protocols as part of their personal and collective responsibility in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

He stated that personal responsibility included adhering to health protocols while collective responsibility is by equipping oneself with vaccinations starting from the first dose to booster doses to create group immunity.

"Pay attention to advice from the government regarding the importance of strengthening the health program and also the COVID-19 vaccination as an effort to suppress COVID-19 transmission in Indonesia," Suprapto added. (Antaranews)

09
November

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The Indonesian government is negotiating cooperation with the International Partners Group (IPG) for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) program, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan informed on Tuesday.

"We plan to announce a joint statement on JETP within the G20 Presidency with IPG countries in Bali on November 15, 2022," he said during the “Energy Transition on Achieving Net Zero Emission a High Call for Urgency” talk show at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-27) in Egypt, which was streamed online on Tuesday.

Indonesia is ready to implement the JETP program, he added.

The program will involve the phase-down of coal power plants and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Indonesian government has said that the energy transition should be just and affordable to improve clean energy transition driven by a sustainable financing mechanism, Minister Pandjaitan stressed.

It has also formulated a presidential regulation on the development of renewable energy for the provision of electricity, he added.

This action will create a framework that broadly allows a clean energy transition.It is also in line with the road map and guidelines for expediting the transition from coal to clean energy, the minister said.

The road map considers the post-retirement plan for decommissioning or repurposing coal plants using low carbon emission technology to ensure energy security for the growth of the Indonesian economy, the minister explained.

Energy transition funding schemes, such as the JTP, have become one of the main tools for supporting Indonesia's energy transition.

This is because Indonesia requires investment worth US$25 million–30 million until 2030 to expedite the energy transition.

The JETP program is capable of supporting Indonesia by providing real value through donations, soft loans, or market investments, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment deputy Nani Hendiarti said, according to the ministry’s website.

Fair transition is a mitigation action for reducing CO2 emissions to help Indonesia become worthy of receiving international support and make its Nationally Determined Contributions target more ambitious, she stressed.

She said she believes that, through JETP, Indonesia will be able to achieve the carbon emission reduction target of 31.9 percent without conditions and 43.2 percent with international support.

“The presidential regulation on renewable energy development acceleration has been signed," she added.

"We are ready to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the energy transition, including early retirement of coal power plants and the development of renewable energy," she said. (Antaranews)

09
November

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Chief of the Presidential Staff Moeldoko has asked regional governments to increase the production of superior food crops.

“In Bima (West Nusa Tenggara), their maize is superior. This productivity must be further increased in order to maintain regional and national food security," he said while receiving Bima Mayor Muhammad Lutfi at the Bina Graha Building, Presidential Palace Complex, here on Tuesday.

Food security is key for facing the risk of a global crisis, he observed. Therefore, the government is seeking to promote food security through various strategies and policies.

In terms of financing, the government has provided People's Business Credit (KUR), which can be accessed by agricultural sector players at an interest rate of only three percent until the end of 2022, he informed.

The government has also increased the credit's ceiling to Rp373.17 trillion (US$23.8 billion).

"Regional governments can use it either for the procurement of agricultural machinery and equipment or the corporatization of the agricultural sector," Moeldoko said.

Moreover, the government is also diversifying regional foods by increasing the production of corn, sorghum, sago, and cassava through land expansion and the opening of new areas, he noted.

"Currently, anything is done to maintain food security so that there is an even distribution of people's welfare," he said.

Meanwhile, Bima Mayor Muhammad Lutfi said that an inadequate irrigation system is still impeding efforts to increase agricultural production. Thus, corn growers are still relying on rainwater.

"We need a dam that can be used as technical irrigation to increase agricultural production, especially of corn," he said.

Currently, the city government is planning to construct two dams, he informed. The dams are expected to prevent floods during the rainy season like those experienced in 2016.

In 2016, high rainfall caused the river water to overflow and flood the entire city, causing Rp2 trillion (US$127 million) in losses.

“In addition to anticipating flooding, this dam is also very important as a source of raw water. Thus, we need support from the Presidential Staff Office," he added. (Antaranews)

09
November

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The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has outlined a number of efforts that parents must make to improve children's nutrition.

The efforts include ensuring that children eat their breakfast and consume enough vegetables and fruits, the ministry's deputy, Agus Suprapto, said after a Strategic Policy Dialogue on School Children's Nutrition, which was streamed online on Tuesday.

"Increase fruit and vegetable consumption while limiting the consumption of unhealthy foods, such as foods with a high amount of salt and sugar," he advised.

Parents should also ensure that children undertake an adequate amount of physical activities.

"Moreover, make sure that children implement a clean lifestyle such as properly washing their hands and brushing their teeth," he said.

If necessary, parents can also give their children, especially teenage girls, blood booster supplements to prevent the risk of anemia, he added.

Improving the nutritional status of school-aged children and teenagers necessitates the participation of many parties, not just parents, he said.

The active role of teachers, health workers, community organizations, educational institutions, health service facilities, and workplaces is vital for supporting the dissemination of information on the importance of balanced nutrition for children, Suprapto said.

"The role and support among sectors and ministries or institutions will be necessary for improving the nutritional status of school-aged children and teenagers to realize a quality golden generation," he added.

On April 19, 2022, the School-Aged Children and Teenagers’ Prosperity Improvement National Action Plan (RAN PIJAR) was unveiled with the support of a number of ministers and institution heads, he said.

One of its goals is to improve the nutritional status and health of school-aged children, in accordance with the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture's Regulation No. 1 of 2022 on RAN PIJAR. (Antaranews)