"The provision of this (KB program) acceptor shuttle ship is a good breakthrough. Family planning services will reach all levels of society, especially for people, who live along the river banks," BKKBN's deputy for advocacy, mobilization, and information, Sukaryo Teguh Santoso, noted in his statement received here, Monday.
Santoso remarked that the provision of the ship focused on transporting KB program acceptors residing along the river banks and remote area in Palangkaraya City.
The provision of this ship will be able to realize an ideal and quality family, economically and educationally.
Data from the Indonesian Nutrition Status Study Survey (SSGI) in 2022 showed that the stunting rate in Central Kalimantan had decreased, from 27.4 percent in 2021 to 26.9 percent in 2022.
However, in order to achieve a stunting rate of 15.38 percent in 2024, the Stunting Handling Task Force must work harder, invite families to plan healthy pregnancies, and intensively educate about the importance of family planning for mothers.
Through collaboration between the Central Kalimantan BKKBN representative and the Population Control and Family Planning Service, with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection and Community Empowerment, the stunting prevention effort will reap positive result, Santoso noted.
He is optimistic that this new innovation would not only accelerate the reduction in stunting rates but also ensure the success of the KB program.
"Please keep in mind that the gap between pregnancies and the number of births that are too often in one family, will increase the likelihood of babies being born with stunting or chronic malnutrition," Santoso cautioned.
In addition, Head of the Central Kalimantan BKKBN Representative Dadi Riswandi stated that the ship will also serve people living in remote areas located far from family planning service centers.
"The existence of this ship will certainly have a big impact on the people in Central Kalimantan, especially for people in remote areas, who live along the river banks," he stated.
He remarked that the BKKBN would continue to reach out to KB program acceptors, especially in remote areas.
The acceptor ship is provided through sourcing from the physical Special Allocation Fund (DAK) in the KB sector in 2022.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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