Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – Deputy Mayor of Malang, Ir. H. Sofyan Edi Jarwoko attended the launch of the Digital-Based Elderly Assistance Program (Agecare) in Bakalan Krajan Village, Sukun, Sunday (7/03/2021). Through this program, it is hoped that the health of the elderly in Malang City can improve and life expectancy will increase. The goal is to realize Malang City as an elderly-friendly city.
Bung Edi, Sofyan Edi Jarwoko's nickname, greatly appreciates the innovation of combining the concept of community empowerment and the use of technology. According to him, so far, elderly assistance has been carried out manually by involving all community potentials, both in recording and managing data.
"However, with the power of technology, we can now monitor the health of the elderly starting from blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, vision levels, hearing and other indicators," said Bung Edi.
Mr. Edi explained that the number of elderly people in Bakalan Krajan is more than 900 people. The number of elderly people who receive services consciously, such as through visits by officers and elderly cadres, is 52%. On average, the elderly in Bakalan Krajan have problems with their eyesight but their hearing is very good.
"Through data collected by elderly cadres, the elderly hypertension rate is 71%, malnutrition 11%, diabetes 25%. This portrait of the health of the elderly is the basis for the government in taking the right steps to help the community so that their health levels improve," explained Bung Edi who also serves as the Chairperson of the Regional Commission for the Elderly (Komda Lansia) of Malang City.
The innovative step taken is the Siaga Bakalan Krajan Village which collaborates with various parties. This program is the only one in Indonesia, precisely in Malang City. He also invited related regional apparatuses to create an elderly care program in Malang City.
This program is a realization of the elderly assistance program through various services for monitoring the health of the elderly by utilizing digital media to manage elderly health data. "The elderly can come to the health center, there are elderly health posts, including elderly cadres who visit the elderly's homes. So there are many ways of service. These are efforts made by the city government," explained Bung Edi.
The target of this program is the elderly, elderly families and elderly cadres. The program initiated by Rumah Zakat is partnered with the Ciptomulyo Health Center, Bakalan Krajan Village, Siaga Bakalan Krajan Village, RW 5 health cadres. "We initiated this program and started it from Bakalan Krajan. Hopefully this activity can inspire people in other villages in our midst," said Bung Edi. (eka/ram)
