TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia, as many countries do, is facing numerous public healthcare problems, which cannot be solved by the government alone amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. During these hard times, philanthropists can be one of the alternatives to support the country's healthcare issues.

This is the main reason behind the launch of the Philanthropy Indonesia's Health Philanthropy Cluster, which is in partnership with Gadjahmada University (UGM) and Tahija Foundation.

Former Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said that health philanthropy is needed to help overcome the unbalanced conditions regarding health between regions, especially in relation to mother and child health, TBC, AIDS, and Malaria or dengue fever.

"If society can be educated to be responsible for their own health and treat it as a priceless aspect in life, then it can be the most effective approach to achieve [Indonesia's optimum health]. This can be done by optimizing and creating independence for integrated health services post (Posyandu) and the healthy living movement," said Mboi as the key speaker at the Health Philanthropy Cluster launch during Indonesia's national health day on November 12, 2020.

Philanthropists can also help improve the capacity of primary healthcare workers, along with helping establish studies and research. More importantly, philanthropists can assist the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in a broader sense within the health sector.

According to Philanthropy Indonesia Director Hamid Abidin, the cluster's launch is hoped to be able to be a collective forum for philanthropy organizations to help improve Indonesia’s health goals through research, policy advocacies, and create new collaborations with other sectors.

TEMPO.CO | MILA NOVITA