In the 2020-2024 Mid-Term National Development Program, one of the targets is reduction of stunting prevalence to 14 percent in 2024, from 27 percent in 2019Jakarta (ANTARA) - A person's first one thousand days of life (HPK) is an important period in stunting prevention, according to National Population and Family Planning Agency’s (BKKBN’s) official, Sukaryo Teguh Santoso.
The first one thousand days of life comprised 270 days or nine months in the womb, the first year of birth (365 days), and the second year of birth (365 days), he noted during an online media briefing on Monday.
To this end, it is important for the government and related parties to continue to actively and intensively provide information and education to primary target groups within the first one thousand days of life.
These primary target groups comprise teenagers or the pre-wedding phase, future couples, families with pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, families with children under the age of two, and families with children under the age of five.
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This golden period is important since all important organs and body systems start to form rapidly; right from the digestion tract, metabolic organ development, cognitive development, physical growth, and immunity system development.
Through stunting handling that starts from the upstream, the 14-percent reduction target in 2024 is expected to be achieved, he stated.
"In the 2020-2024 Mid-Term National Development Program, one of the targets is reduction of stunting prevalence to 14 percent in 2024, from 27 percent in 2019," Santoso stated.
"The target indicators and establishment aligns with the Indonesian government's commitment to fulfill the sustainable development goals," he added.
According to data from 2021 Indonesian Toddler Nutrition Status Survey (SSGBI), stunting prevalence was recorded at 24.4 percent, or 5.33 million toddlers, declining from the previous years.
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This national figure serves as a reminder that Indonesia needs to reduce stunting prevalence by 2.6 percent per year to achieve the 2024 target, he highlighted.
This is a challenging task, given that globally, the stunting reduction rate sits at 0.5 percent per year from 2000 to 2021, he noted.
"However, we are largely optimistic that this target would be achieved through good benchmarking and the capital that we possess as a nation," Santoso remarked.
The target is expected to be achieved within two years through collaboration with other parties, he stated.
"Stunting handling can not only be done by the government alone, but it should also be conducted through the pentahelix approach, collaboration with universities, the private sector, community, and also media enthusiasts," he remarked.
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Z, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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