The government currently continues to expand efforts to reduce the prevalence of stunting
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture urged the public to prevent stunting by stepping up the consumption of foods that are rich in animal protein, such as fish, eggs, and meat.

The protein content in fish can support the formation of body tissue and improve immunity that makes it good to meet the nutritional demand and prevent stunting, the ministry's official, Agus Suprapto, confirmed here, Wednesday.

Growing children should consume nutritionally balanced food that includes animal protein to prevent stunting, he emphasized.

In addition, it is important that balanced nutritional needs of pregnant mothers be met in order to prevent the issue of stunting in children that they would deliver, he pointed out.


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"The government currently continues to expand efforts to reduce the prevalence of stunting," Suprapto stated.

Currently, the stunting prevalence stood at 24.4 percent, and in 2024, it is targeted to decline to 14 percent, he stated.

The government has made several efforts in accordance with the stunting reduction national strategy that involves improving the commitment of all related ministries or institutions and bolstering the dissemination of information to the people.

The government has also improved food and nutrition security at the individual, family, and community level as well as developed system, data, information, research, and innovation.


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Moreover, the government has conducted various interventions that target infants to teenage girls and future brides, including encouraging the fulfillment of nutritional needs.

Regional governments play a strategic role in the effort to reduce stunting cases in their respective regions by improving surveillance and also allotting budget from the special allocation fund, Suprapto highlighted.

"Regional health officials' role in improving dissemination on how to prevent stunting is also very necessary," he stressed.


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Translator: Wuryanti P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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