"The impact of stunting is not only a matter of height but the child's low ability to learn, mental retardation, and the emergence of chronic diseases that easily affect the child's body," the president stated while opening the National Work Meeting of the Bangga Kencana Program (Family Development, Population, and Family Planning) and Stunting Reduction in Jakarta, Wednesday.
Jokowi instructed that the target of reducing the stunting rate to 14 percent in 2024 should be achieved. The president believes that by working together, realizing the target is not difficult.
"As long as everyone works together, we can achieve it. Our stunting rank in ASEAN is still in the middle, with 21.6 percent. However, later, when we can reach 14 percent, we will be slightly below Singapore," he remarked.
Based on the health minister's report, the highest percentage of stunting was recorded in the five provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, Aceh, West Nusa Tenggara, and Southeast Sulawesi. However, if calculated in terms of numbers, the highest percentages are in West Java, East Java, Central Java, North Sumatra, and Banten.
The head of state addressed that if data can be tracked by name and address, stunting reduction can be easily conducted since the target data is clear.
"From what I saw in Sumedang, the application can monitor individuals, including their needs. Everything can be checked through their platform. We will adopt that innovation nationally to accelerate stunting reduction," he remarked.
The president noted that the number of children under five in the country reached 21.8 million. However, the number of integrated health posts (posyandu) and community health centers (puskesmas) in Indonesia is not evenly distributed, with a total of 300 thousand posyandu and 10,200 puskesmas.
If the health infrastructure can be utilized properly, the stunting problem will be easily resolved, he affirmed.
"One of our challenges to reduce stunting is the number of our puskesmas that is not evenly distributed. There is one sub-district that has seven puskesmas but there are others that only have two. The distribution must be taken into consideration," he pointed out.
Related news: Number of stunting cases dropped to 21.6 percent in 2022
Related news: Stunting indicative of uneven nutrition fulfilment in children: BKKBN
Related news: Jokowi attributes reduction in stunting prevalence to parties' work
Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
