Assalamualaikum wr.wb.

Greetings to all of us. Praise to God Almighty, for by His protection, all of us, fellow General Practitioners and Pediatricians will gather once again at the 19th National Congress of Indonesian Pediatrics Society (KONIKA XIX) in Semarang-Solo 2024.

As we are aware, this year’s KONIKA theme is “Ensuring Equal Access of Childcare in The Era of Society 5.0”. The Society 5.0 era is an era when technologies such as the internet, big data, and artificial intelligence are leveraged to enhance the quality of human life and solve social problems. In the realm of child healthcare, aimed at improving children’s health and well-being, we should integrate technology to provide smarter, more humane, and sustainable healthcare services.

In recent years, Indonesia has made progress in various fields, but there are still some areas where healthcare access remains unequal. According to UNICEF statistics in 2018, around 12 % of Indonesian children live below the poverty line. This disparity results in inadequate sanitation facilities, incomplete immunizations, lack of health insurance, malnutrition, limited access to basic education, and barriers to adequate healthcare services. To address these challenges, we must leverage technological advancements to overcome barriers to healthcare access. For instance, utilizing telemedicine, maximizing social media for disseminating crucial knowledge, particularly to expectant mothers, emphasizing the importance of preventive behaviors such as complete routine immunizations for children, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, regular visits to integrated health posts (Posyandu), providing nutritious and protein-rich complementary feeding for infants over six months. Aside from that, we must also ensure a comprehensive immunization coverage nationwide, good newborn screening practices, non-communicable disease management, and so forth. The ultimate goal is to cultivate long-term health among Indonesian children to ensure they become exceptional human resources in the future.

Hopefully the 19th National Congress of Indonesian Pediatric Society (KONIKA XIX Semarang-Solo 2024) brings forth advancements to empower us as General Practitioners and Pediatricians. Our role is crucial in enhancing child healthcare quality for their optimal growth and development.

I personally extend my gratitude to all participants who have actively engaged in the KONIKA XIX Semarang-Solo 2024. Hopefully, this event serves as a valuable platform for both Pediatricians and General Practitioners to expand their knowledge in child healthcare. Let us work together to ensure excellent healthcare services for our children.

Wassalamualaikum, Wr Wb

dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, Sp.A(K)
President of Indonesia Pediatric Society