We need a high and continuous commitment from all parties so that we can reduce stunting to 14 percent by 2024, as announced by the PresidentJakarta (ANTARA) - Four Indonesian districts have continued to report a very high number of cases of stunting, a growth disorder caused by chronic malnutrition in children, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) has said.
Minister Muhadjir Effendy made the remarks at a national coordination meeting on the acceleration of stunting reduction, which was broadcast on the Kata Data YouTube channel on Monday.
The districts where the stunting rate is still very high include Jeneponto (41.3 percent) and Bantaeng districts (21 percent) of South Sulawesi, Minahasa district (38.6 percent) of North Sulawesi, and South Nias district (57 percent) of North Sumatra, he informed.
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"This condition is different from the stunting rate in Sukabumi district, which is already below the national average of 21.9 percent. However, this is still far from the national average target figure of 14 percent for 2024," Effendy said.
Overall, the average stunting rate in Indonesia is currently in the range of 27.7 percent, he noted.
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"We need a high and continuous commitment from all parties so that we can reduce stunting to 14 percent by 2024, as announced by the President," he said.
Earlier, President Joko Widodo had issued Presidential Regulation No. 72 of 2021 concerning Stunting Reduction to accelerate the handling of stunting in children.
In an effort to prevent and deal with stunting, the government has offered nutrition intervention programs targeting pregnant women and children aged 0 to 23 months, intensified efforts to improve the health of pregnant women and children, increased access to clean water and sanitation facilities, and campaigned for the implementation of clean and healthy living.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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