Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin reminded relevant ministries and non-ministerial government institutions as well as local governments to reduce stunting rates in Indonesia.

"Collaborative work is the key in our efforts to accelerate efforts to eliminate stunting, which is part of the ministry's program in accordance with the respective duties," he remarked while giving directions at the National Coordination Meeting for the Acceleration of Stunting Prevention in 2021 held virtually here on Monday.

The stunting elimination program has, so far, been conducted by relevant ministries or agencies and local governments by utilizing budget funds from ministries or agencies as well as fund transfer to regions, such as the Special Allocation Fund (DAK), General Allocation Fund (DAU), and Revenue Sharing Fund (DBH).

Hence, Amin appealed to ministries or institutions as well as local governments to ensure that all programs and activities to reduce stunting can achieve the target.

"Our challenge is how to ensure that all programs that utilize budget funds from ministries or institutions as well as local governments and other funding sources can convergently achieve targets in the region and be felt directly by the community," he affirmed.

Related news: COVID-19 pandemic becomes challenge to reduce child stunting: VP

Amin also reminded ministries or institutions and local governments to coordinate, so that efforts to reduce stunting can run well and targets are achieved, at the provincial, district, city, and village levels.

"Multi-sectoral and multi-governmental level interventions are not possible without collaborative work," he emphasized.

He lauded the regents and mayors that had committed to accelerating the reduction of stunting in their respective regions.

"With a strong commitment from regional heads to eliminate stunting as a priority, all necessary resources can be mobilized to facilitate these efforts," he stated.

Related news: Stunting rate expected to reduce to 14 percent by 2024


Translator: Fransiska Ninditya, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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