WEB DESK: Veterinarians play a vital role in the government’s efforts to improve people’s nutritional intake through the Free Nutritious Meals program, according to Deputy Minister of Transmigration Viva Yoga Mauladi.
“The involvement of veterinarians is crucial to meeting people’s need for animal proteins and supporting the free nutritious meals (program),” Mauladi noted in his office’s statement cited here on Sunday (January 12).
According to the deputy minister, veterinarians’ work could help the government independently fulfill the people’s animal protein requirements under the program, ultimately reducing reliance on livestock imports.
Speaking at the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian Veterinarians Association (PDHI) in Jakarta, he underscored the need for synergy among relevant ministries and other institutions to realize this idea.
“While we are aiming for self-sufficiency in food, it is equally paramount to build the capability of fulfilling the need for animal proteins domestically,” he emphasized.
The deputy minister, however, highlighted that Indonesia still lacks veterinarians, with the current count standing at around 13,500, necessitating an additional 50 thousand.
“This is a dilemma because there are only 14 higher education institutions with a faculty of veterinary medicine,” he added.
The institutions include Airlangga University, Gadjah Mada University, IPB University, Syiah Kuala University, Brawijaya University, Padjadjaran University, and Udayana University.
On that note, Mauladi, a veterinary graduate of Udayana University, remarked that some factions at the House of Representatives (DPR) had begun to push for the legislation of the Bill of Veterinary Education and Services.
He noted that with the support of most parliamentary factions, the bill is expected to be passed into law within a year.
“This is for the sake of the people, the nation, and the country,” he concluded.
