"Parents' knowledge regarding the benefits of eating a balanced diet that is rich in animal proteins becomes the main key," the ministry's expert staff for sustainable development Agus Suprapto said when contacted on Wednesday.
A low level of knowledge among the community, especially parents, regarding the importance of a balanced diet is posing a problem in efforts to accelerate stunting prevalence reduction, he explained.
"Thus, the coordinating ministry continues to remind that the essential factor in stunting handling is the nutritional fulfillment of pregnant women and under-five children, especially the fulfillment of animal proteins," he said.
Besides supporting children's physical development, a balanced diet can optimize their brain development, he added.
Suprapto said that the ministry is continuing to strengthen the dissemination of information regarding the provision of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary foods to optimize the growth and development of children.
He further said that efforts to check stunting aim to prevent children's brains from not growing and developing properly.
"Thus, this condition needs to be prevented since the first 1,000 days of (a child's) life as the child's golden period for growth and development, one of which is by fulfilling the (need for) nutrition optimally in accordance with children's daily needs," he added.
He said that his ministry is continuing to remind all stakeholders, especially regional governments, to optimize specific and sensitive interventions to handle and prevent stunting.
He explained that specific interventions are efforts that are aimed at resolving the direct causes of stunting, while sensitive interventions are aimed at resolving the indirect causes of stunting.
Indonesia's stunting prevalence declined by 2.8 percentage points to 21.6 percent in 2022 from 24.4 percent in 2021, according to the 2022 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI).
The Indonesian government is aiming to reduce stunting prevalence to 14 percent by 2024.
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Translator: Wuryanti Puspitasari, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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