"To media partners, I would like to emphasize that stunting is a multi-sectoral issue, so it has a wide scope for the media to explore," Amin remarked at the Executive Forum event "Towards a Stunting-Free Indonesia" in Jakarta on Thursday.
Amin noted that the mass media has a vital role to play in disseminating information on stunting that affected various sectors. He suggested the media to draw focus on various efforts to reduce stunting in one area that can, in turn, be applied elsewhere.
"The media can also play a role in recording various good practices in accelerating the reduction of stunting to be replicated in other regions with similar problems," the vice president affirmed.
Moreover, with its wide reach, the media can provide constructive education to the public, especially regarding steps to prevent stunting, he affirmed.
"Media, as part of Penta helix, can take on a role with its competence, resources, and networks to carry out advocacy, socialization, and campaigns to directly reach Indonesian families," Vice President Amin stated.
On that occasion, he noted that stunting reduction in recent years has shown quite significant results. However, the 2022 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) showed that currently, 21.6 percent, or around 4.7 million Indonesian toddlers, still live with stunting.
According to the vice president, one of the efforts to achieve the target of 14 percent for stunting in 2024 and also zero stunting in 2030 is by increasing public literacy and understanding regarding improving behavior at the family level.
Hence, to this end, the role of various parties, including the media, is deemed necessary to disseminate information on parenting and healthy living behavior for children, he emphasized.
The vice president reminded that the zero stunting target must serve as a common goal for all stakeholders and the community to work together and support each other in realizing the target.
"A stunting-free Indonesia requires awareness and mobilization of all elements to contribute and collaborate closely in realizing our target," he emphasized.
He expressed hope that through this forum, media activists with various resources would produce concrete steps in an effort to accelerate the reduction of stunting in Indonesia.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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