"Aceh can become a national pilot project in the mutual cooperation program to accelerate stunting reduction. This program can be carried out through foster parents for children with stunting," Head of BKKN Hasto Wardoyo stated in Jakarta, Thursday.
In a meeting at the office of the Bener Meriah district head on Wednesday, Wardoyo said that accelerating stunting reduction that is carried out in mutual cooperation can help children and families at risk of stunting.
Through BAAS, the government can help to provide one egg a day for stunted children via donations that will later be used by the Family Assistance Team (TPK) to process nutritious food.
"We try to fulfill the need for animal protein intake. Mutual cooperation will help to solve this kind of problem. Donors will be channeled directly to families at risk of stunting through specific intervention programs. This program is integrated with the Healthy Kitchen to Overcoming Stunting (Dashat)," he stated.
Based on the 2021 Family Data Collection (PK) that was updated in 2022, some 21.9 million families are at risk of stunting across Indonesia. The prevalence of stunting in Indonesia currently reaches 24.4 percent.
However, the stunting rate is 33.2 percent in Aceh and 27.4 percent in Lhokseumawe City, Aceh Province.
BAAS is a program promoted by the BKKBN to help stunted children and also families at risk of stunting. The program was inaugurated by Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army, General Dudung Abdurrachman as the Ambassador for BAAS.
Wardoyo noted that thousands of people have now joined the program. Foster parents will donate Rp15 thousand per day or Rp450 thousand per month to children with stunting and/or families at risk of stunting.
Meanwhile, Lhokseumawe Acting Mayor Imran lauded the program and will hold further discussions regarding the implementation of BAAS in future.
"I have asked all Heads of Services in the city to share the information regarding stunting reduction. In 2023, we will intensify the BAAS program," he stated.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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