We must invest in nutrition interventions from now on. This investment is the key that will shape the future of our nationJakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has emphasized that investment in nutrition interventions is crucial for shaping the nation's future.
“We must invest in nutrition interventions from now on. This investment is the key that will shape the future of our nation," Amin said at the 2021 National Stunting Forum here on Tuesday.
Each dollar invested in nutrition programs can generate ten times the benefit in the development of superior quality-human resources, he added.
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Currently, in Indonesia, one in three children aged under five is experiencing stunting, he noted. In fact, the stunting prevalence rate has remained at 27.67 percent since 2019, he pointed out.
According to one study by the World Bank, losses due to stunting and malnutrition shave at least 3 percent off a country's gross domestic product (GDP), the Vice President said.
“Our target is crystal clear; we want to reduce the prevalence of stunting to 14 percent by 2024. In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target, we hope that by 2030, the stunting rate prevalence in our country would be zero percent," he remarked.
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For this reason, he said, nutrition interventions could help the country improve the quality of its human resources, especially in stunting alleviation.
He also urged all parties to continue collaborating and making serious efforts in carrying out the stunting reduction acceleration program, as mandated by Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021, which aims to reduce the stunting rate to 14 percent by 2024.
Amin stressed that the government is highly committed to reducing stunting in Indonesia and will continue to make efforts to achieve quality and healthy future generations.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
