The minister made the statement while monitoring the implementation of simultaneous measurements and interventions to reduce stunting at the Villa Taman Kartini (Vitaka) integrated health posts (Posyandu), Margahayu, Bekasi City, on Monday.
"The key to reducing stunting depends on the mother. All help would prove futile if the mother does not care about her child. It would not work," Effendy remarked.
The minister also urged mothers to immediately visit posyandu if their children had lost weight.
"Do not wait for posyandu cadres to come. There must be awareness from the mother," he remarked.
Effendy advised sub-districts and districts to properly check the nutritional status of their toddlers.
"Make sure that nutrition for the children is available," he stated.
The minister drew attention to four important aspects that should be considered for children to become a quality generation toward realizing Golden Indonesia 2045.
"The first is to be healthy. If you are smart but not healthy, it is useless, and if you are stunted, it cannot be recovered. Second, be smart, then be strong, and always provide nutritious food, especially animal protein. Tempeh is good, but eggs or fish are better," he explained.
Meanwhile, Head of Posyandu Vitaka, Tri Ambarwati, stated that by June 2024, some 82 toddlers, two prospective brides, three pregnant women, three malnourished toddlers, and one stunted child had received intervention.
"Especially today, 53 toddlers are present here, and we swept the others to measure them and give them additional food," Ambarwati remarked.
She also drew attention to one of the innovations carried out by Posyandu Vitaka, namely Mak Banting, or Nutritious Food to Solve Stunting.
The government has targeted a reduction of 14 percent in stunting based on Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021 concerning the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction.
Related news: Ministry pursues simultaneous interventions to prevent stunting
Related news: Papua governor initiates National Immunization Week on Numfor Island
Translator: Lintang Budiyanti Prameswari, Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
