"If your child's growth is stunted, do not worry. Address the (issue) by increasing the child's body weight and height to recover them from stunting," he stated, according to a statement released by the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) here on Saturday.
During a working visit to Mekar Sari village, Kubu Raya district, West Kalimantan, on Friday (May 26, 2023), the coordinating minister asked families whose children are showing symptoms of stunting not to hesitate to seek assistance from health officers so that their condition can be handled promptly.
Regional authorities must also enact policies to reduce stunting prevalence among children in their region, as implemented by the Kubu Raya district authority, he added.
Effendy commended the local authority for allocating a portion of its budget for implementing public health policies for reducing the stunting rate in Kubu Raya, which, according to the Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI), stood at 27.6 percent in 2022.
"This is good because all poor residents here have their BPJS (healthcare and social security) cover. It is not covered by the central government, but by the regional budget," the coordinating minister informed.
He also lauded the authority's initiative to procure portable ultrasonography (USG) equipment to support routine check-ups of pregnant mothers at integrated health posts (posyandus) in the district.
"(USG examination) is to ensure that the fetus in the mother's womb is healthy, has no stunting risk, and has no congenital disease. It also allows for prompt handling if any symptoms are found," Effendy stated.
Meanwhile, West Kalimantan BKKBN Office head Pintauli Romangasi Siregar said that Effendy's visit encouraged the local authority to optimize efforts to reduce stunting prevalence in the region.
During a dialogue with residents, the coordinating minister also distributed nutritious foods for stunted children in the village, she added.
The office head said that the Kubu Raya district authority has also committed to supporting efforts to eradicate stunting by focusing on early detection and the mother's health during the baby's first 1,000 days of life.
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Translator: Hreeloita DS, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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