Addressing stunting problem has become a priority national program as part to prepare a golden generation for onward Indonesia when Indonesia celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2045Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said that his office will set up a special task force involving several relevant ministries to deal with stunting problem in the country.
"Addressing stunting problem has become a priority national program as part to prepare a golden generation for onward Indonesia when Indonesia celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2045. The stunting rate is now still fluctuating," the minister said in a statement here on Saturday.
This new coordinating minister said he preferred seeing facts in the fields and holding dialogs with medical doctors and paramedics to get first hand information about stunting and try to find the solutions.
Related news: Indonesian health minister ordered to reduce stunting among children
He recently attended a workshop on stunting organized by the Central Java Doctors' Association.
Muhadjir Effendy was informed by several doctors that stunting is not just a problem concerning malnutrition and the condition of babies during their first 1,000 days, but it is also caused by poor sanitation.
"This input will become a foundation in formulating a policy at the national level," he said.
He remarked that sanitation development is the responsibility of the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, which is under the Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs.
Related news: Government targets seven percent reduction in stunting rate: Amin
Hence for the improvement of public sanitation, he will establish coordination with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs.
In the meantime, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin spoke of the government’s target to lower the country's stunting rate by seven percent to reach 20 percent or in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) threshold recommendation. "We want to further reduce the current 27 percent to 20 percent in accordance with the international standard. Hence, we have to cut it by seven percent," Amin stated during a visit to a community health center (Puskesmas) in Pecatu Village, Bali, recently.
He admitted to the government's efforts until now being sufficiently effective in lowering the stunting rate.
The government has been seeking innovative ways to prevent stunting and lower the stunting rate in the country, according to him.
Related news: East Nusa Tenggara battles to combat childhood stunting
Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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