BPOM collaborates with Puteri Indonesia to educate on drug and food safety
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) has equipped 45 Puteri Indonesia finalists during their inauguration as Ambassadors for Safe Drugs and Food as an effort to educate and inspire the public regarding the safety and sovereignty of national drugs and food.
“Education is a key element in forming smart consumers for national development and resilience. The inauguration of Puteri Indonesia finalists as Ambassadors for Safe Drugs and Food today is not merely a ceremony, but a shared commitment to continuously educate, inspire, and protect Indonesian society,” said BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar in Jakarta on Monday.
According to him, one of the important pillars of drug and food supervision is independent and empowered consumers who can protect themselves from risky drugs and food that threaten health. The circulation of illegal products, cosmetics containing hazardous substances, and misleading information along with the development of information and communication technology pose challenges in drug and food supervision that need to be anticipated and responded to appropriately.
He stated that realising the safety, independence, and sovereignty of drugs and food in Indonesia is a collective task. In carrying out drug and food supervision, his agency collaborates across sectors. Not only synergy with domestic partners, BPOM also establishes cooperation with international partners.
“The training received today at BPOM further broadens knowledge and insights regarding drug and food safety as provisions to educate the public with accurate, clear, and non-misleading information,” he said.
BPOM Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) Chair Elfi Ikrar expressed a similar view. According to Elfi, women are often involved in decision-making, including selecting drugs and food for themselves and their families.
Therefore, empowered women are those with knowledge, capable of critical thinking, and able to make appropriate decisions. Empowered women are not easily influenced by trends but can discern what is safe and what is risky.
“By prioritising the 3B values—Brain, Beauty, and Behaviour—Puteri Indonesia is not only a symbol of beauty but also an agent of change in raising public awareness of the importance of drug and food safety,” said Elfi.
Meanwhile, Chair of the Puteri Indonesia Selection Committee, Kusuma Ida Anjani, expressed her gratitude to BPOM for the continuous annual collaboration with the Puteri Indonesia Foundation.
“We hope [we] can continue to learn many things, inspire Indonesian women as influencers and public figures with positive influence and broad networks to help shape societal preferences in choosing drug and food products,” said Ida Anjani.