Currently, the stunting prevalence (rate) is 24.4 percent. Meanwhile, the president has targeted the stunting rate to decline to 14 percent by 2024. To achieve the target, stunting prevalence must decline by three percent each yearJakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy called to reduce the prevalence of child stunting in Indonesia by three percent each year to achieve the targeted 14-percent stunting prevalence rate by 2024.
"Currently, the stunting prevalence (rate) is 24.4 percent. Meanwhile, the president has targeted the stunting rate to decline to 14 percent by 2024. To achieve the target, stunting prevalence must decline by three percent each year," Effendy stated at the "2022 Vocational Schools Capable National Showcase" event followed online here on Friday.
Effendy explained that based on data from the Indonesian Under-five Children Nutrition Status Survey (SSGBI) in 2021, the prevalence of stunting is currently still at 24.4 percent, or 5.33 million children under five.
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“Why this stunting reduction program is essential? (It is) because the first one thousand days of life is a golden period,” he pointed out.
In order to reduce the stunting rate and create a golden generation by 2024, the minister highlighted the need for strengthening the dissemination of information and education in families, especially teen girls, who would one day embrace motherhood.
“They (teen girls) need to eat balanced nutritious foods to maintain a healthy body and avoid anemia. This is essential as a preventive effort to prevent their babies from being born stunted," he remarked.
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He called to thoroughly handle child stunting, as Indonesia will enjoy a demographic dividend that must be utilized optimally.
Effendy also noted that the program for handling and reducing the prevalence of stunting requires the active participation of all parties, so that the expected target can be achieved.
“To reduce the stunting rate, from 24.4 percent to 14 percent by 2024, cooperation of all parties is needed,” he stressed.
In addition, he accentuated the importance of educating future brides on several issues, such as reproductive health, family health, family life, and family economy.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adj
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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