Data collection is expected to make it easier for the government to provide social assistance to those in needPekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has encouraged regional governments to make efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting prevalence through ways including by completing facilities in primary health services.
“Regional governments, please prioritize the polyclinics and community health centers that are neglected and check what is lacking,” the minister remarked here on Tuesday.
Karnavian assessed that inadequate primary health services would be causal to stunting in children.
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The minister stated that in a bid to accelerate stunting reduction, village heads are activating Family Welfare Movement (PKK) and integrated health posts (Posyandus) to conduct door-to-door data collection of pregnant women in low-income families that are at risk of stunting.
According to Karnavian, those pregnant women should be provided with additional food, an egg per day, animal proteins, vegetables, and vitamins.
“Data collection is expected to make it easier for the government to provide social assistance to those in need. Thus, aid distribution and programs from the government can be right on target,” the minister remarked.
Moreover, detailed data collection is needed to see what those families are lacking, so that the government can take interventions through the distribution of various forms of aid.
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To reduce stunting prevalence in Riau Province, the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) of Riau has formed the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Task Force starting from the village to provincial levels.
The BKKBN of Riau has formed family assistant teams (TPK) spread across all districts and cities in the province, with the number of personnel totaling 10,674. The teams comprise PKK and Family Planning (KB) cadres and midwives approved by the local village heads.
In addition, the BKKBN of Riau has formed audit teams in 12 districts and cities in the province involving pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists, nutritionists, and psychologists.
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Translator: Frislidia, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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