TIMIKA – Acting Governor of Central Papua, Ribka Haluk, accompanied the Chairperson of the Family Welfare and Empowerment Team (TP PKK), Tri Tito Karnavian, during her visit to Mimika Regency on Friday, July 26, 2024.
During the visit, Ribka Haluk expressed her appreciation to Tri Tito Karnavian for her visit to the region.
“The presence of Mrs. Tri and her entourage brings new enthusiasm for us to continue striving for a bright future for the children of Indonesia in Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province,” she said.
Ribka emphasized that the theme of Children’s Day, “Protected Children, Advanced Indonesia,” is highly relevant and important, reminding all parties to take collective responsibility in creating a safe, educational, and loving environment for the nation’s future generations.
“Through this working visit, we hope to deepen sustainable cooperation to improve the quality of life for children in Central Papua. With strong synergy between the central government, local governments, and the community, we can achieve our shared goal of ensuring every child receives the protection they need and the opportunity to develop optimally,” she explained.
In front of Mrs. Tri, Ribka outlined several PKK-related activities that have been conducted. She also acknowledged that many areas in Mimika have not yet been reached.
“This is a challenge for all of us. Despite our substantial regional budget (APBD), there is still a significant gap between the affluent and the underprivileged,” she noted.
She urged PKK leaders to promote grassroots activities.
“I believe the government has provided funds for PKK to carry out its work at the grassroots level,” she said.
Ribka highlighted that the Mimika region is a particular focus for the minister, especially concerning communities in areas like Pomako, as well as issues related to education and other sectors.
“We recognize that we haven’t done enough. I hope that with a strong APBD, we can address all areas where homes are uninhabitable, children are not attending school, and more. No one in our community should live in poverty anymore,” she emphasized.
She explained that her administration is preparing to launch a new program called “Gasing,” and she hopes it will be implemented collaboratively.
Additionally, she mentioned that nutritional programs addressing stunting have already been planned.
“We have assigned midwives to assist children; please continue to monitor this. I recently provided an example with 12 housing units in Pomako as directed by the minister. We are continuing to develop this, considering issues like land status. I urge the local government to prioritize this so that we can build together without discrimination,” she added.
Ribka expressed her hope that any shortcomings in the field would be directly communicated by PKK leaders to the regents, who are also their husbands.
“Please support all efforts. As Acting Governors, our term is only one to two years, and we may not achieve much in that time, but let’s work together to build a better future for our children,” she concluded.
