"The training aims to teach them correct measurement for stunting data using anthropometric tools. This is still ongoing," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated at a working meeting with Commission IX of DPR RI and Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), Hasto Wardoyo, on Thursday.
Sadikin explained that anthropometric measurements by officers to detect stunting in children are carried out by measuring the body weight, length, and height as well as the circumference of the child's upper arms and head to immediately give proper treatment for children detected with stunting.
So far, only around 50-60 percent of anthropometric measurement officers have been able to measure accurately, in accordance with the Ministry of Health standards, he remarked.
The minister drew attention to cases of midwives of posyandu cadres measuring the weight of a child wearing a jacket.
"It is wrong. When measuring body weight, the person concerned cannot wear clothes or jackets," he emphasized.
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Apart from the training of human resources, the ministry also carries out efforts to ensure accurate stunting data through the provision of anthropometric equipment according to standards in all posyandu and health facilities in the country.
"Our anthropometric equipment in the past was not standard. Nowadays, the problem has been resolved 99 percent. Several districts and cities are lacking the equipment but most of all are completed," Sadikin revealed.
The ministry also ensures the stunting measurement target coverage reaches a minimum of 90 percent, barring several regions that have not carried out comprehensive anthropometric measurements.
"There are good areas with low stunting rates but only 50 percent (of samples) are taken and 50 percent are good areas," he added.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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