"We expect to be able to provide animal protein based on the local food condition," the ministry's official, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, noted during an online workshop "Analyzing Stunting Trend and Malnutrition Systematic Issue" on Thursday.
The stunting campaign related to good nutrition cannot be implemented in a similar way throughout Indonesia since the food differs across regions, she emphasized.
The campaign is adjusted on the basis of the condition of a location and local food that is available in a certain region.
For instance, moringa leaves or easily accessible eggs in villages acquired through farming can be used as complementary food for breast milk (MP-ASI).
The campaign is also adjusted with the focus of improving and fulfilling nutritional requirements during infants' first one thousand days of life. The campaign is undertaken with related ministries or institutions.
Stunting handling is holistic in nature. Hence, stunting handling is directly led by the Vice President's Secretariat, with the Vice President serving as the main lead, as the issue does not solely revolve around health, she explained.
Public Health Protection Coalition (Kopmas) Secretary General Yuli Supriapti noted that in addition to observing the condition of regional residents, the government should also understand the local culture.
The campaign will be more effective if it is conducted with cultural or religious figures that the people trust more, she explained.
The problem of stunting cannot be handled in a similar way since Indonesia is a large country, with a variety of islands and cultures, she noted.
"This should be examined, so that we do not just focus on stemming the stunting rate," she remarked.
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Translator: Hreeloita D S, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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