President Asks People To Report Delayed Issuance Of Health Cards

Kabanjahe, N Sumatra, Oct 29 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, has called on the Mount Sinabung eruption evacuees to bring to his notice if their "Family Welfare Cards" and "Health Cards" are not issued within two weeks. The president issued the statement when he visited and held dialogs with hundreds of Mount Sinabung refugees at the GBKP accommodation center in Kutacane, Kabanjahe, here on Wednesday evening. President Jokowi said the issuance of a Family Welfare Card, Indonesia Smart Card, and an Indonesia Health Card must be done on time. "If the cards that the evacuees need are not issued (in two weeks), just send me an SMS message (report it to me)," the president noted while informing the residents about his cellphone number. The president also ordered North Sumatra Governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho, who had attended the meeting, to extend his assistance so that such cards could be issued at the earliest. "Cards for refugees should be issued as soon as possible," the president stated. On the occasion, President Jokowi also asked Paskah, a grade-five elementary school student of Simacem Village, to read the Pancasila state ideology text. The president was pleased to see the student`s willingness to read the Pancasila (five principles of state ideology) text. Evacuee Riani Beru Tarigan (43) requested the president to allow all refugees to be given health cards. Besides that, she also pointed out that the students should also not be charged tuition fees, so that the school fees will no longer be collected from their parents. "The school fees are quite a burden for the parents, and it would be a reasonable decision if they are eliminated," Riani emphasized. The Mount Sinabung refugee count currently stands at 1,019 families or some 3,287 residents. They are staying in 14 locations in the districts of Karo and Kabanjahe. President Joko Widodo distributed aid packages to the Mount Sinabung eruption evacuees at the KNPI Building in Karo district during his visit on Wednesday. The evacuees, who have been living in the shelter provided by the government for almost a year, were pleased to receive the packages distributed by the president in the company of First Lady Iriana Jokowi and Social Affairs Minister Indar Parawansa. President Jokowi was only present for an hour in the district but received a warm welcome from the residents. The aid package distributed to each family comprised rice, sugar, milk, noodles, and cash worth Rp500 thousand. Besides that, President Jokowi also distributed the "Family Welfare Cards", "Indonesia Smart Cards", and "Indonesia Health Cards" to offer free education and health services. A total of 299 families or 729 people are currently accommodated at the KNPI Building, while the total number of Mt. Sinabung evacuees reached 1,019 families or 3,287 people spread across in 14 shelters in Karo and Kabanjahe districts. A refugee from Bekerah village, Juria Beru Ginting (65) thanked the president for the aid.