Life expectancy increases, says official

Life expectancy increases, says official

JAKARTA: Director general for community health at the Ministry
of Health Azrul Azwar, revealed on Tuesday that the average
person's life expectancy in Indonesia had jumped within the last
30 years to 70 years old in 2000 from 55 years old in 1970.

He said the data was an indicator of the country's success in
developing community health, as the number of senior citizens
reaching 60 years of age had quadrupled in 2000 compared to 6.6
million in 1980.

Delivering a speech at the opening of the 2002 Silver Age
Expo, held to celebrate Silver Age National Day, Azrul said the
development of community health centers (Puskesmas) in remote
areas and other similar health services had benefited senior
citizens prone to health problems.

The government has provided them with special services,
including a 20 percent discount for any transportation
facilities, a lifelong identity card, and free health service at
Puskesmas.

"Every Puskesmas provides integrated services to senior
citizens, ranging from free examination and treatment to holding
weekly exercise programs to keep senior citizens in a healthy
condition," Azrul said. -- JP