Kupastuntas.co, Lampung English - The Bandar Lampung City Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Service (PPPA) noted that there are nearly 200 children with down syndrome and special needs in the local city.

Head of the Bandar Lampung City Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Office, Maryamah advised parents to pay special attention to children with down syndrome and special needs.

Because according to him there are three factors for the success of children, namely from parents, environment, and education.

"Most of them are in education, because of that we also have to continue socializing to the environment. If the total number of children with Down syndrome and ABK (children with special needs) is nearly 200 children in the city of Bandar Lampung," he said when interviewed at the 2023 Indonesia Children's Day event, at Semergo Building Bandar Lampung, Monday 31 July 2023.

Maryamah said that parents cannot completely give up education, so her party socializes parenting through child forums and child observers in order to create an inclusive environment.

Apart from that, he also emphasized that business actors, public places and tourism places must prepare special facilities for children.

"Entrepreneurs, public services in every village and sub-district are asked to provide child-friendly places, such as chairs, for example, must be provided for children. So there is a special free space for children," he said.

The Mayor of Bandar Lampung, Eva Dwiana, admitted that she had received reports from the Bussaina Orphanage where there were many children entrusted to her from other cities.

"The City Government of Bandar Lampung has really provided support to the Bussaina Orphanage because it accommodates children who have been abandoned by their parents," said Eva.

"But on the other hand, even though there are children who have deficiencies, parents still raise their children with love," he continued.

He also revealed that the City Government of Bandar Lampung would provide funds of IDR 2 billion for nutritious food intake for children and also for schools.

Meanwhile, the City Government of Bandar Lampung has also prepared special schools for persons with disabilities for all levels of education, starting from kindergarten, elementary, junior high to high school.

This aims to provide the widest possible access for persons with disabilities in the local city to get an education. The school is located in Kedaton District.

"There is a school building that we will turn into a disabled school. So for the facilities we will free everything, later there will be high school, middle school and also elementary and kindergarten," said Eva.

Eva said that the school could be used in the near future, because the building itself already exists.

"Hopefully in September or October this new school year can be used. Because this school is still good, the location is close to everywhere because it is in the middle of the city, namely in Kedaton," he said.

After the school was operational, said Eva, children with disabilities from outside Bandar Lampung could study at the school.

"But they must have a certificate of incapacity from their respective regions," said Eva.

For the teaching staff themselves, continued Eva, her party will take honorary staff from several schools.

"We will take on many kindergarten teachers and hire them to become contract workers. Because these children with disabilities are the same as other normal children," he said. (*)

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