That plan seeks to take maximum advantage of Indonesia’s demographic dividend, which describes the period when the share of the working-age population (defined as 15 to 64 years old) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population.

During this period, the productive efforts of the working population support the rest of the population that is not economically productive. However, the demographic dividend only gets paid, i.e. can only deliver economic gains, if the working population is productive — meaning healthy.

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, the dividend period starts this year when 68.7 percent of the population is categorized as “productive”. The agency also predicted that the peak of the dividend will be reached in 2036.

Hence, the health of not just those people now aged 15 to 64 years old, but also of those children born two years from now — who will turn 15 in 2036 and become part of the peak dividend team — becomes a crucial factor in productivity.

Unfortunately, in the past several years, stunting and obesity have taken the limelight in Indonesia’s health news. The prevalence of stunting even became one of the main priorities of the Health Ministry. The Ministry aims to reduce prevalence to 28 percent by the end of this year from 30.8 percent earlier this year, but that would still mean that one in four children suffers to some degree from the long-term impact of malnutrition.

With obesity, the government’s Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) of 2018 found that the prevalence of obesity in adults aged 18 years old and above has increased from 10.5 percent in 2007 to 14.8 percent in 2013 to 21.8 percent in 2018. That increase puts Indonesia in the top 10 list worldwide.

Among infants, the Riskesdas 2018 data shows 8 percent of infants in Indonesia are considered obese while 95.5 percent of children more than 5 years old don’t consume enough vegetables and fruits.

If we want our workforce to be healthy, we should ensure that infants born from now on, school children, and even teens are getting the necessary nutrients by ensuring they are eating and drinking properly. Despite the convenience of dinners delivered from a favorite restaurant or the fun of street-side snacks, ultimately we need to start taking control of what we, as well as what children, consume. A healthy lifestyle around nutritious foods and drinks with exercise should be taught and instilled since early childhood at home.

According to the Health Ministry, a comprehensive solution is still needed to address children’s poor nutrition. To address these two seemingly opposite health challenges, the Ministry has set up task forces and developed programs that encourage healthy living practices.

While stunting can require more complicated treatment approaches, obesity can be addressed by all of us. Poor health choices are often the culprit in the increasing number of obese children and adults, who then experience a wide range of related health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure and stroke.

Then there is the matter of the declining demographic dividend after the 2036 peak. When Indonesia celebrates its Centennial in 2045, this dividend will be used up and the smaller segment of the population will have to support the larger segment. Imagine if that aging population is not healthy.

The healthcare infrastructure of the country is already struggling (as is the government’s health insurance fund, BPJS) to handle current levels of stunting, obesity, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other illnesses. Recently, the Public Health Development Index found that NCDs are still on the rise. Despite an overall improvement in the index, the level of NCDs is the only indicator showing a negative development in all 34 provinces.

As companies, we have an obligation to contribute to the positive state of the world in ways that work for each of us. At Philips, we have committed to support United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 — to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being — and Goal 12 — to enable sustainable consumption and production patterns. These are goals where Philips can support to improve lives.

As individuals — working or non-working — if we can find ways to put nutritious foods and drinks on our tables and in our children’s stomachs, then our demographic dividend might indeed be a well-earned bonus.

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The writer currently serves as country general manager, Personal Health Philips Indonesia.

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