"The verification and validation of families at risk of stunting have become important because they are good resources for enhancing assistance programs and development programs," he said during a discussion organized by the BKKBN here on Friday.
He explained that based on the updated 2022 family data, there are around 13.5 million families that are at risk of stunting, where the birth of stunted children can be prevented if the intervention is completed and assistance is provided properly.
He noted that the results of the 2023 family data collection update have shown that 101.38 percent of family data has been updated, covering 14,478 villages, which were the locus targets.
"The by-name-by-address data for family data collection can be used as a database for targeting intervention programs not only for BKKBN, but also for ministries and institutions," he said.
He explained that even though the 2023 family data update reached above 100 percent, there are several regions that have not met the target. He then appealed to those regions to maximize the verification and validation of families at risk of stunting that will be carried out in September–October 2023.
The verification and validation will not only examine the current trend of families at risk of stunting, but also serve as an effort to prevent stunting, according to Santoso.
"This program is important as the implementation of one of the five priority activities of stunting reduction acceleration under Indonesia's Stunting Prevalence Reduction National Action Plan," he added.
He informed that the program is conducted twice a year, as mandated by a regulation.
"This will be material not only for strengthening the Family Information System (Siga), but also for the needs of the regional governments and the BKKBN," he said.
He stressed that the commitment and support of all parties related to the verification and validation are essential.
He also asked the stunting reduction acceleration task force to monitor the verification and validation because they are a shared responsibility at the province, city, and district levels.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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