Improving the quality of human resources has to start with building the health of the young generation through actively raising awareness about the benefits of adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Director of family, women, youth, and sports at the National Development Planning Ministry/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum made the remarks at a webinar here on Tuesday.

“This campaign is a firm expression of our commitment to continue increasing awareness on a healthy and balanced diet among Indonesian teenagers through GERMAS (the Public Health Movement),” she explained.

Indonesia has a huge potential to reap a demographic bonus in 2030, she noted.

According to Bappenas, in that year, the productive age group will likely account for 64 percent of the total population of 297 million Indonesian citizens, she said.

“This is an extraordinary potential for the millennials and generation Zs to grow together in terms of quality and development. We need to ensure their needs of health and nutrients are fulfilled,” she affirmed.

If Bappenas can make them a great, strong, and resilient generation, they can drive development. However, it will be a barrier if they do not possess great health, she added.

Therefore, according to her, it is important for the government, related parties, and parents to collectively build the youth’s quality through a healthy lifestyle and diet. Holistic and sustainable efforts need to be made to realize that need, she added.

“We need to implement these efforts in a comprehensive way. We need to consider their capacity for living a healthy lifestyle,” she explained.

Furthermore, she said, families’ understanding and children’s adoption of a nutritionally-balanced diet need to be improved.

Source: Antara News