The president decided to simplify the command line for stunting prevention programs because the earlier arrangement involved 19 ministries and government institutionsJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo directed government officials to ensure that the stunting prevention program continues beyond symbolic events, such as the year-end distribution of nutritious food packages, Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Chief Moeldoko stated.
"President Joko Widodo instructs that the rate of decline of stunting prevalence in Indonesia reaches minimum three percent annually. To achieve this goal, we need focused, prompt, and comprehensive measures instead of merely organising budget-consuming symbolic events like earlier," Moeldoko remarked.
Moeldoko earlier attended a meeting to discuss stunting prevention measures that was presided over by Widodo in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The office chief noted that stunting prevention programs would be the direct responsibility of the Health Ministry and the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), with the total budget procured for the program being Rp50 trillion (US$3.5 billion).
Related news: 'Stop Stunting Action' to reduce stunting in South Sulawesi: Governor
"The president decided to simplify the command line for stunting prevention programs because the earlier arrangement involved 19 ministries and government institutions," he stated.
The president also instructed officials to refer to the Indonesia Single Database system to ensure the program accurately intervened in regions with high prevalence of stunting, the Office chief noted.
"If we exert our maximum efforts, the stunting reduction target of 14 percent could be achieved in 2024," Moeldoko noted.
During the meeting, Moeldoko also called for the central government's technical and funding assistance for three provinces -- East Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, and Aceh -- with the highest prevalence of stunting.
Related news: Governor pushes to increase fish consumption to prevent stunting
"The Presidential Staff Office also suggested the president to preside over the National Movement for Active Posyandu as the front line of the stunting prevention mission," the Office chief remarked.
Posyandu is a community-level pre-natal and post-natal healthcare centre that serves infants and mothers.
According to the Indonesia Nutrients Status Study (SSGI) nationwide research, stunting prevalence in Indonesia has reduced, from 27.7 percent in 2019 to 24.4 percent in 2021. Despite the 3.3-percent decline, the current stunting prevalence level is still above the maximum WHO standard of 20 percent.
Related news: Likelihood of stunting detectable before birth: BKKBN
Related news: BKKBN holds cycling event to raise awareness on stunting prevention
Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
