The budget will be used for specific interventions and sensitive interventions.
Medan, North Sumatra (ANTARA) - The North Sumatra provincial government has allocated Rp346 billion (US$21.7 million) to accelerate stunting handling in the region.

"To accelerate the reduction in stunting cases, the provincial government has budgeted around Rp346 billion. The budget will be used for specific interventions and sensitive interventions," acting governor of North Sumatra, Hassanudin, informed here on Wednesday.

At a consolidation meeting for the acceleration of stunting reduction in North Sumatra, he explained that specific interventions include efforts to address the direct causes of stunting, such as meeting the nutritional needs of mothers and children.

Specific interventions also include infection prevention and the provision of health services to mothers and children.

Meanwhile, sensitive interventions comprise efforts to address the indirect causes of stunting, including through the provision of clean water and proper sanitation facilities.

Hassanudin has asked the relevant regional apparatus organizations (OPD) to ensure the effective implementation of specific and sensitive interventions.

"Let's make sure the interventions are carried out optimally and on target," he said.

He highlighted that stunting is a national problem and asked all stakeholders and the community to actively participate in efforts to reduce stunting, which is caused by chronic malnutrition, repeated infections, and lack of stimulation.

"Stunting is our common problem. If the program planning and execution is good, then we can achieve the target," he said.

Based on data from the 2022 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey, stunting prevalence in North Sumatra dropped from 25.6 percent in 2021 to 21.1 percent in 2022.

Head of the Representative Office of the North Sumatra National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), Munawar Ibrahim, said that the province is seeking to reduce stunting prevalence to 18 percent this year.

"If this can be achieved, it will be easier to achieve the (national) target of (reducing stunting prevalence) to 14 percent by 2024," he added.

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Translator: Anggi P, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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