"In 2023, dissemination of information and public education about balanced nutrition continues to be strengthened," the ministry's deputy for the coordination of health quality improvement and population development, Agus Suprapto, said here on Wednesday.
According to Suprapto, intensive educational activities for the public are expected to encourage improvements in nutritional intake both at the family and community levels.
"The ministry hopes that the community will understand the importance of a balanced diet better and explore healthy food sources from local natural wealth," he said.
People also need to realize the importance of consuming food wisely and not wasting it.
"The ministry invites all parties to make a food-sharing movement to help people in need," he said.
Moreover, the ministry is motivating the public to take advantage of National Nutrition Day, which falls on January 25 every year, he added.
The commemoration of National Nutrition Day is aimed at promoting a lifestyle based on a balanced diet.
In order to realize the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, or the vision of making Indonesia an advanced country by 2045, improving the nutritional status of school-age children and adolescents has become the government's top priority in 2023.
Furthermore, the ministry is collaborating with other parties to bolster programs that support efforts to realize a quality generation in Indonesia, Suprapto informed.
"One of the efforts is through intervention, education, and dissemination of information to the community in the framework of improving the nutritional status of school-age children and adolescents," he said.
According to him, the ministry has also called for a mutually-agreed policy recommendation by stakeholders on young people's nutritional status.
As per Basic Health Research data, 23.6 percent of children aged 5–12 years were stunted, 9.2 percent were malnourished, 10.8 percent were overweight, and 9.2 percent were obese in 2018, he noted earlier in a statement issued on December 15, 2022.
He affirmed that his ministry is committed to promoting the implementation of a healthy lifestyle to ensure children’s development.
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Translator: Wuryanti P, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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