Midwives are the most trusted people in serving and checking the growth and development of children. In addition to having a legal permit to provide services in villages, midwives are able to assist families, especially in providing knowledge about hJakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) Hasto Wardoyo highlighted that midwives are one of the determining factors in ensuring the success of child stunting handling in Indonesia.
"Midwives are the most trusted people in serving and checking the growth and development of children. In addition to having a legal permit to provide services in villages, midwives are able to assist families, especially in providing knowledge about health," the BKKBN head noted in a written statement here on Friday.
Wardoyo remarked that based on the 2018 Basic Health Research data, the number of premature births in the country was still deemed high, reaching 29.5 percent.
Related news: Minister, BKKBN head unveil Stunting-Free DRPPA in North Sumatra
To this end, the role of midwives, who are members of the Family Assistance Team (TPK), along with the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) and family planning cadres becomes crucial, especially in the first one thousand days of life or until the child is two years of age.
The TPK members are tasked with providing counseling, facilitating referral services, and enabling the provision of social assistance, as well as conducting surveillance on target families that are at risk of stunting.
The BKKBN has readied around 600 thousand personnel spread across 200 thousand TPKs in a bid to accelerate reduction of the stunting rate, from 24.4 percent to 14 percent by 2024.
Related news: Total fertility rate affects maternal, infant mortality rates: BKKBN
Apart from their role in stunting handling, midwives are also playing a crucial role in disseminating information on the importance of contraceptives for women in Indonesia, so as to address the issue of short birth spacing, which is one of the causes of stunting.
To this end, the BKKBN head has urged future midwives and midwives to continue to improve their knowledge, so that children in the country can be born healthy and safe.
"I urge students and future midwives to increase knowledge and competency to prevent the occurrence of premature births, as there is a high likelihood of stunting," he remarked.
Related news: BKKBN representatives' duties determine handling of stunting cases
Related news: BKKBN holds case audit coaching to accelerate child stunting reduction
Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
