"Let's jointly develop and utilize local food resources in each region to fulfill the nutrition (needs) of children and pregnant women in order to prevent stunting," the ministry's deputy for coordination of health quality improvement and population development, Agus Suprapto, said when contacted from here on Tuesday.
One of the efforts to prevent stunting is to fulfill nutritional needs, especially in the first 1,000 days of a child's life, he informed.
"Therefore, the fulfillment of nutrition (needs) in the first 1,000 days of a child's life, including during pregnancy, needs to become a shared concern," he stressed.
According to him, local foods that are accessible and widely available around the community can be used to fulfill the nutritional needs of pregnant women and children.
"Especially local foods that contain lots of protein, such as fish, eggs, tempeh, and tofu, are very good for supporting the fulfillment of nutrition for pregnant women and children. Thus, they need to be optimized properly," he said.
He affirmed that the ministry is also supporting the strengthening of dissemination of information and education on the importance of using local foods as part of stunting prevention efforts.
"Local governments can increase dissemination and education to improve the community's awareness and understanding regarding the importance of balanced nutritional intake," he remarked.
He further said that the stunting reduction acceleration program needs the joint commitment of all parties to run optimally.
He also highlighted the importance of families' active role in jointly making strategic efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting in the country.
"This is in accordance with Presidential Regulation 72 of 2021 concerning the acceleration of stunting reduction, which is a national commitment and the embodiment of all parties' commitment to solving the stunting problem," Suprapto said.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adj
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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