There are many kids in Indonesia experiencing nutritional problems, including stuntingJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) will use the 2022 National Children's Day celebration as a momentum to strengthen synergy to resolve problems related to children's nutrition in the country.
"There are many kids in Indonesia experiencing nutritional problems, including stunting," deputy for family welfare and family empowerment at BKKBN, Nopian Andusti, said here on Thursday.
According to him, the nutritional problems faced by children are mostly stunting, followed by obesity, and wasting (thin body shape).
Stunting can cause children to fail to grow, experience delays in cognitive and motor development, and suffer from metabolic disorders, he said.
"If we do not prevent it, it will cause problems in the future, such as low intellectual human resources with no competitiveness. This will cause the unemployment rate to increase," he added.
President Joko Widodo, through Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021, has mandated the BKKBN, as the head of the stunting reduction acceleration team at the central level, to achieve the target of reducing the stunting rate to 14 percent by 2024.
Related news: Having breakfast, limiting caffeine help prevent child stunting: BKKBN
Stunting reduction efforts are targeted at all Indonesian children and seek to ensure they can grow optimally; have good emotional, social, and physical abilities to learn; and be able to innovate and compete at the global level; as well as prevent the birth of stunted babies in the future.
The BKKBN has carried out various innovations such as forming a Family Assistance Team (TPK) to assist and monitor family health to build convergence with various ministries and agencies and related parties, Andusti said.
The government is serious about monitoring children's growth and development, especially in the first 1,000 days of life, through specific nutrition interventions carried out by the health sector in the short term.
Meanwhile, sensitive nutrition interventions are being provided through various activities outside the health sector for stunting mitigation. Both interventions are being implemented, especially for toddlers.
Related news: Low budget absorption hindering stunting reduction efforts: BKKBN
In addition to collaborating with ministries, agencies, and other parties from the private sector as well as academia, the BKKBN is also organizing parenting classes to realize behavioral change at the family level.
The BKKBN is continuing to encourage innovations for family-based stunting prevention, which are targeted at teenagers, prospective brides, prospective couples of childbearing age, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children aged 0–59 months.
"The activities of Family Development for Toddlers and Children are very strategic to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of parents as well as other family members who have toddlers for fostering the growth and development of toddlers through physical stimulation of emotional intelligence and socioeconomic intelligence," Andusti said.
Related news: National Children's Day reminder to fulfill children's rights: BKKBN
Related news: Boosting coordination crucial for stunting reduction: Ministry
Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
