Mila Rahmawati, BKKBN's Director of Population Control Policy Integration, mentioned on Friday a case of a newborn being given plain water, which entered the lungs.
"This type of behavior must be changed, and our cadres need to conduct socialization in the field," she said.
The case serves as a lesson on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, she added.
Therefore, regional cadres need to actively educate families about the significance of exclusive breastfeeding for babies.
"The role of cadres in the regions is crucial for promoting breastfeeding. Not all mothers can immediately breastfeed smoothly after giving birth, when breast milk is actually the best for the baby's immune system," Rahmawati said.
She stated that BKKBN has started a class for pregnant women to prepare for childbirth, providing materials on exercises for smooth breastfeeding and education regarding nutritious food for breastfeeding mothers.
"The nutritional food can be found in the form of animal proteins and vegetables," she said.
She described the cadres and family planning counselors included in the Team for the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction (TPPS) as the vanguards for family strengthening, starting from monitoring prospective brides to the first 1,000 Days of Life (HPK) of the baby.
In each province, BKKBN already has a Family Welfare Empowerment Mobilization Team (TP PKK) and family planning counselors as cadres, as well as midwives.
"They will monitor pregnant women, mothers with toddlers, and prospective brides," she informed.
She said that three months before marriage, prospective brides and grooms must report on the Ready for Marriage and Pregnancy Electronic Application (Elsimil).
"Later, there will also be an examination of the prospective mother's arm circumference with a minimum of 23.5 centimeters, then the hemoglobin level of at least 12. We also carry out weight and height measurements," she added.
It is advisable for men not to smoke if they wish to have children, as smoking can significantly affect the development of their future children, Rahmawati said.
Meanwhile, it is advisable for expectant mothers to maintain good health and fulfill their nutritional needs for the benefit of their babies.
"This is not an easy job. We must prepare quality human resources for Golden Indonesia in 2045," she emphasized.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti P, Resinta S
Editor: Anton Santoso
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