Stunting should be known and understood by the entire population, especially Indonesian teenagers and youngsters,Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) held a Jakarta-Bogor-Bandung cycling event to raise awareness of young people on the prevention of children born with stunting.
"Cycling around Bandung is done along with stunting prevention campaign for Bandung's youngsters and teenagers," BKKBN's Movement and Information Advocacy Deputy Sukaryo Teguh Santoso said in his written statement here on Sunday.
"The cycling event will also be held in Jakarta on December 19, 2021 along with the inauguration of stunting prevention clinic at the National Police Hospital," he added.
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He explained that the event was organized in cooperation with Koesindo (Indonesia Health Community Cycling Club) on Dec 11 and 12.
The event is a public campaign to raise awareness of the Indonesian people, especially teenagers and future married couple, on the importance of mothers' and children's health to prevent stunting.
During the cycling activities, BKKBN disseminates various information concerning stunting among children.
This information concerns the definition stunting, as well as the short term and the long term effects of the disease to children.
The short term effects include stunting's impact toward children's intelligence and physical growth, while the long term effects cover the decline of children's cognitive capability and metabolic disease risk.
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"Stunting should be known and understood by the entire population, especially Indonesian teenagers and youngsters," Santoso affirmed.
"Hence, stunting prevention efforts should be done as early as possible, perhaps starting from teenagers, pre-marriage, and pregnancy period," he continued.
The stunting rate in Indonesia is currently at 27.67 percent, he noted. Hence, based on President Joko Widodo's directive, the government aims to reduce the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia to 14 percent by 2024.
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In order to achieve that goal, the stunting rate should be lowered by almost three percent each year.
To this end, Santoso expects all parties to cooperate to edify the public to reduce the rate of stunting in Indonesia.
"To prevent stunting, BKKBN will certainly not work alone. This requires cross-sectoral collaboration," he explained.
"Cooperation with Koseindo through Jakarta-Bogor-Bandung Cycling Tour activity is one of the effective methods to encourage Indonesian people to care about stunting prevention," he remarked.
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Translator: Hreeloita S, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
