S

ome 1,000 Family Welfare Movement (PKK) activists from 264 regencies and mayoralties in 33 provinces across Indonesia declared themselves agents of change in a 21-day program to promote healthy living at Grand Hotel Lembang in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday.

The declaration, involving PKK chairwomen Vita Gamawan Fauzi, wife of Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, and Netty Prasetyani Heryawan, wife of West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, was made in the run up to National Family Day 2011, inaugurated by Vice President Boediono in Kota Baru Parahyangan, Bandung.

The PKK is a community family welfare organization run by women.

Vita said PKK activists should be the driving force and agents of change in their respective areas, not only in the economic sector. Those who are involved in the healthy living program include wives of governors, regents and district heads.

“Ensuring a family’s well being not only involves economics but also raising awareness of the importance of leading a healthy life,” Vita said in Lembang, Bandung regency, on Wednesday.

The head of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) and Indonesian Child Specialists Association (ADAI), Tb. Rachmat Sentika, said the 2010 Community Health Development Index (IPKM) survey in Indonesia showed the percentage of families in the good category of Sanitary and Healthy Lifestyle was only 35.68 percent of around 62 million households in the country, while the percentage of people who practiced healthy living, such as those who wash their hands with soap, was only 24.48 percent of around 237 million people.

“All of us have the duty to encourage the more than 64 percent of households to lead a healthy lifestyle,” said Rachmat.

The healthy living movement is aimed at supporting the government’s target of having 70 percent of the country’s families lead healthy lives by 2014.

Some of the points of healthy living being campaigned are bathing with soap, washing hands with soap before meals and after going to the toilet.

Rachmat said washing one’s hands with soap could protect one against at least 10 illnesses caused by germs, such as diarrhea, because based on data, an average of 3 million people daily have diarrhea in Indonesia.

“Washing hands with soap is an effective way to prevent bacteria and germs, including the new E-coli strain,” said Rachmat.

PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk. brand building director Eka Sugiarto said her company had encouraged people to lead a healthy lifestyle by using one of its soap brands for 21 consecutive days as part of steps to healthy living.

“In his book Psycho-Cybernetics, Prof. Dr. Maxwell Maltz mentions that a new habit could be formed by carrying out something routinely for 21 days,” said Eka.

The PKK has chosen housewives to take part in the program because they are proven to be very effective in promoting a healthy lifestyle.