If we only handle the stunting, the problem will not end. We must overcome the root of the problem. We appreciate the assistance from private and foreign parties to help us reduce the stunting prevalence rateJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) will collaborate with a number of private and foreign partners to strengthen efforts to reduce stunting prevalence.
"Right now, we are facing a demographic bonus, but, on the other hand, we also have a stunting rate amounting to 24.4 percent," BKKBN Head Hasto Wardoyo noted at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the partnershere on Friday.
The MoU was signed by BKKBN with Tanoto Foundation, PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN), Bakti Barito Foundation, PT Bank Central Asia Tbk, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to Wardoyo, the collaboration will be in the form of increasing public education and implementing an integrated nutrition program to tackle stunting through evidence-based nutrition interventions, as well as strengthening nutrition services through the health system from the national to the local level.
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Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021 on accelerating the reduction in stunting rate seeks to resolve this problem through sensitive interventions related to ensuring a livable environment and sanitation or clean water, as well as specific interventions related to child nutrition and targeting pregnant women, he said.
Thus, collaboration with private and foreign partners can accelerate efforts to improve public health and prevent the deterioration in the education aspect due to the long-term impact of stunting, either in the form of decreased cognitive abilities of children, lack of growth and development, and susceptibility to metabolic diseases in old age, he added.
He said he hopes that the collaboration will support the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which is targeting to reduce stunting prevalence nationally to 14 percent by 2024.
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“If we only handle the stunting, the problem will not end. We must overcome the root of the problem. We appreciate the assistance from private and foreign parties to help us reduce the stunting prevalence rate," he remarked.
Meanwhile, director of USAID-Indonesia, Jeff Cohen, said that sensitive and specific interventions can run optimally to achieve the targets that have been set by the government.
“USAID is pleased to be able to strengthen partnerships with private sector partners to support the achievement of Indonesia government's target of reducing the national stunting prevalence by 2024,” Cohen added.
Director of the Bakti Barito Foundation, Dian A. Purbasari, expressed the hope that the collaboration between several parties will produce tangible evidence to improve the health of the nation's children, both by ensuring adequate nutrition and growth in a proper and supportive environment.
"We are proud to be a part of this, to help overcome stunting through strategic programs such as providing nutrition, building capacity, and encouraging changes in social behavior to a better direction," Purbasari added.
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Translator: Hreeloita D S, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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