"We are talking about the future of the nation because the future depends on children and their health. We do not want to create a nation with stunted children. Hence, it (stunting problem) should be overcome," Kalla said here on Wednesday.
The vice president made the remarks after presiding over a plenary meeting for handling the problem of stunting in children, which took place at the vice presidential office.
According to the Health Affairs Ministry, around 37 percent, or approximately 9 million children, under five in Indonesia have stunted growth and such cases are spread throughout Indonesia.
Currently, Indonesia is one of the countries with high prevalence of stunting compared to that of other middle-income countries.
Indonesia is in the group of countries with the worst stunting conditions, with the stunting cases in infants, and anemia in adult females, along with 47 other countries including, Angola, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Haiti, Malawi, Nepal, and Timor-Leste.
In the meantime, Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Development Puan Maharani revealed that the government was trying to promote a balanced nutrition program involving 12 ministries and agencies.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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