"The stunting rate must be reduced as low as possible, because infants and toddlers living today, will become the productive age group that determines the success of achieving Golden Indonesia in 2045," BKKBN Principal Inspector, Ary Dwikora Tono, said here on Sunday.
Tono said quality human resources are the key to achieving Golden Indonesia 2045. Therefore, he stated, the preparation of human resources must start from now on.
"By 2045, we must be able to achieve Golden Indonesia, which means to be an advanced and sovereign Indonesia, where its economy is strong, has evenly distributed development, and the people are engaged and feel the results of development," he said.
BKKBN encourages stunting prevention efforts starting from the upstream. For instance, couples who are about to get married should undergo a health examination three months before the wedding.
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The health check serves to ensure that the mothers and babies are in good health condition and to prevent stunting.
Furthermore, he said, parents must pay attention to the diet of babies and toddlers, and also provide them with exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
"Malnutrition that occurs in stunting can be caused by the wrong diet and parenting that hinder children's growth," Tono said.
Meanwhile, Head of BKKBN Yogyakarta Representative Office, Andi Ritamariani, said that women can play a larger role in stunting prevention.
"It is a loss if they do not give breast milk (to babies and toddlers). The nutrition and hygiene of breast milk are guaranteed too," she said.
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Translator: Sean M, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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