The General Election COMMISSION (KPU) of Tasikmalaya City, West Java held its first public debate for 5 pairs of candidates for mayor-deputy mayor of Tasikmalaya, Saturday evening (2/11) at the Grand Metro Hotel, Cihideung District. The five pairs of candidates all conveyed their vision and mission for the next five years in front of the panelists and their supporters.
The debate was attended by 5 panelists consisting of Dr Pepep Puad Muslim from the Nahdlatul Ulama Institute (INU) Tasikmalaya, Prof Muradi from Padjadjaran University, Prof Mohammad Taufiq Rahman from UIN Sunan Gunung Djati, Dr Aip Syarifudin from Muhammadiyah University Cirebon and Dr Edy Suroso from Universitas Siliwangi Tasikmalaya.
The first public debate for 5 pairs of candidates for mayor-deputy mayor of Tasikmalaya had the theme of realizing community welfare and advancing the region through sustainable development and the sub-theme Human Resource Development (HR) which includes education and health, poverty and inequality, economic development strategies, spatial planning and infrastructure cities as well as environmental and sustainable cities.
Pair number 1, Nurhayati-Muslim, said that the stunting rate in Tasikmalaya City is indeed very high, reaching 5 thousand and this problem is because so far the special allocation fund (DAK) budget has not been optimal, especially in health services, which has resulted in high poverty rates. pressed
“There is a lot that needs to be repaired, especially many of the health equipment are damaged, BPJS patients have to be treated there and so far most of them are in private hospitals. While we were at Commission IX of the regional government there was a request to the Ministry of Health so that they would provide equipment, but Dr. Soekardjo had to prepare the facilities and all that was left was a building that had been idle for more than 3 years and had to be demolished,” he said.
Meanwhile, pair number 2, Ivan Dicksan – Dede Muharam, said that one of the health services currently owned by the regional government, Dr Soekardjo Hospital, appears to be tending to collapse and efforts will be made to improve management. Because, it is not optimal and must always be controlled so that in the future scholarships are provided, especially for specialist doctors so that they stay working there.
“We will improve health services to reduce stunting rates, including reducing poverty in Tasikmalaya City. Because improvements must be made, especially buildings that have been out of service for more than 3 years, they can be re-optimized so that they serve residents who are going for treatment, including trying to find a budget considering both the problem of poverty and the numbers. “Stunting must be suppressed so that it goes down,” he said.
Pair number 3, Muhammad Yusuf-Hendro Nugraha, said that the problem of poverty in Tasikmalaya City was at that time the highest in West Java and is now experiencing a gradual decline and is at the 25th level.
However, inflation in people’s purchasing power is very good and has now reached 2% and in the future Tasikmalaya City will become a metropolitan city in East Priangan.
“Poverty in Tasikmalaya City now is because many people are able to become poor and in the future this will be addressed from upstream to downstream with the hope of reducing the poverty rate by 1% including stunting cases. Because, in the future Tasikmalaya City will become a metropolitan city in East Priangan so that this can be realized, he said.
Meanwhile, pair number 4, Viman Alfarizi Ramadhan-Raden Dicky Candranegara, said that the poverty rate that occurs in the Tasikmalaya City area is caused by less than optimal health services, causing stunting cases to increase and most of the poor people have a lack of GJZI intake, including blood medication. However, this increase for pair number 4 will focus on suppressing this problem.
“It is true that the stunting rate has not been optimized in health services and the poor have not received services including blood-boosting drugs. However, for us, candidate pair number 5 Yanto Aprianto-Muhammad Aminudin will improve the health pick-up and drop-off service by providing vehicles at every health center and we also as an initiator, especially for 1,720 Baduta, this was successfully carried out,” he concluded. (N-2)
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**Interview with Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim: Insights from the Tasikmalaya Debate on Health and Development**
*Interviewer*: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim. You were one of the panelists at the recent public debate in Tasikmalaya City, which focused on community welfare and sustainable development. What were your key takeaways from the debate?
*Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim*: Thank you for having me. The debate revealed the urgent need to address several critical issues, particularly health services and poverty alleviation in Tasikmalaya. The candidates acknowledged the high stunting rates and expressed concern over the ineffective utilization of the special allocation funds for health services.
*Interviewer*: Yes, the candidates mentioned the alarming stunting rate in the city. What do you think is contributing to this issue?
*Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim*: The root causes of stunting are multifaceted, often linked to inadequate healthcare infrastructure, poor nutrition, and socioeconomic factors. In Tasikmalaya, the lack of investment in health facilities—like the damaged equipment in Dr. Soekardjo Hospital—has certainly exacerbated the situation. Additionally, many residents rely on private hospitals, which can lead to disparities in access to care.
*Interviewer*: The discussion also touched on economic development strategies. How do you see these intertwined with health and education in the region?
*Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim*: Health and education are foundational to economic development. By improving health services, we not only tackle issues like stunting but also enhance the workforce’s productivity. Educating the public on health and nutrition can create a ripple effect that boosts overall community well-being. Investment in these areas will lead to sustainable economic growth for Tasikmalaya.
*Interviewer*: What role do you think local government plays in addressing these challenges?
*Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim*: Local government plays a crucial role in implementing policies and allocating resources effectively. They must prioritize healthcare and educational infrastructure and solicit support from national agencies. It’s essential for local leaders to be accountable and responsive to the community’s needs, especially in ensuring that funds are used optimally to benefit the public.
*Interviewer*: Lastly, what is your hope for the future of Tasikmalaya after these debates?
*Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim*: My hope is that the elected leaders will take the insights from these discussions to heart and commit to actionable plans that will significantly improve health services and reduce poverty. A collaborative approach with community involvement is vital. Only then can we achieve lasting recovery and resilience for Tasikmalaya.
*Interviewer*: Thank you, Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim, for sharing your insights with us today. Your expertise is invaluable as Tasikmalaya moves forward on these pressing issues.
*Dr. Pepep Puad Muslim*: Thank you for having me! It’s essential to keep these conversations alive as we strive for a better future for our community.
