In order to protect toddlers and pregnant women from experiencing stunting, the BKKBN has formed a TPK whose job is to assist, record children under five and pregnant women, and provide consultation to themJakarta (ANTARA) - The 2022 National Family Day, which falls on June 29, offers momentum to augment the role of the Family Assistance Team (TPK), according to the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN).
"In order to protect toddlers and pregnant women from experiencing stunting, the BKKBN has formed a TPK whose job is to assist, record children under five and pregnant women, and provide consultation to them," Head of BKKBN, Hasto Wardoyo, noted in a written statement, Thursday.
Wardoyo explained that environmental factors, such as poor drinking water sources and uninhabitable houses, were some of the causes of stunting in children. Improper drinking water raises the risk of illness in mother and child in addition to disrupting their growth and health.
In Sinjai District, South Sulawesi, the percentage of improper drinking water that fails to meet the health standards reached seven percent, while 29 percent of the families live in uninhabitable houses. The region needs improvement in terms of developing a clean and healthy environment.
Wardoyo noted that the stunting prevalence rate in Sinjai District had reached around 27 percent. To this end, the BKKBN deployed 600 TPK comprising midwives, PKK cadres, and family planning cadres to help reduce stunting.
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"Family Planning Field Officers (PLKB) as well as the ranks of the Family Planning Service will be deployed to assist the stunting reduction program in Sinjai District," he remarked.
Wardoyo emphasized that stunting can be prevented by promoting the role of TPK in providing education related to stunting or improving the community's nutrition, recording toddlers' growth development, and providing consultation to pregnant women.
In order to increase the role of TPK in the regions, the BKKBN has prepared a physical and non-physical Special Allocation Fund (DAK) every year through the Regional Apparatus Organization for Family Planning (OPD KB). The funds can be utilized for infrastructure development, meeting costs, TPK honorarium budget, as well as funds for post-vasectomy and tubectomy recipients.
Wardoyo expressed optimism that the funds would boost the program to improve the Family Development, Population, and Family Planning Program as well as the regional stunting reduction acceleration program.
"The funds can be received by regional heads. We hope they will support this program to increase the public's confidence in the government's program," he remarked.
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Deputy head of Sinjai District Kartini Ottong spoke of having gained new knowledge to reduce the number of stunting cases in her area.
Ottong is optimistic that through strengthening the role of TPK and building a healthy environment for families, they can contribute to protect children from stunting.
"Hopefully, Sinjai District can contribute to reduce stunting that is targeted at 17.52 percent in 2024," Ottong stated.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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