"We provide marriage and family mentoring programs. We are implementing this at the Religious Affairs Ministry. We also collaborate with religious universities and organizations," the ministry's Director General of Islamic Community Guidance, Kamaruddin Amin, stated here on Tuesday.
Amin made the statement during a meeting with the House of Representatives' (DPR's) Working Committee on the Supervision of the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction at the Parliament Complex.
Amin explained that the Religious Affairs Ministry educates soon-to-be-married people through a hybrid mode, both on-site and online.
Amin remarked that starting in 2024, his side has necessitated every prospective bride and groom to take part in the Marriage Guidance Program which also contains stunting prevention materials.
Despite budgetary limitations, he said the ministry believes that the intervention efforts are instrumental in lowering the stunting rate in Indonesia.
Related news: Indonesia revises 2024 stunting rate target to under 20 percent
"The specific budget allocation for stunting, again, is non-existent. Hence, we make mentoring programs. We consider this quite strategic because stunting starts from literacy or the family possessing the knowledge to educate their children," Amin stated.
He also shed light on the ministry's public education program on stunting that is carried out in collaboration with universities.
For instance, the ministry has established cooperation with the UIN Walingsongo University in Semarang.
He said the university has a thematic community service program related to child marriage prevention.
Through the thematic community service program that involves college students, the ministry can educate the public on the importance of preventing underage marriages so that no child is born stunted.
In addition, the ministry involves community leaders and influencers in strengthening literacy on stunting prevention.
Related news: Human resources a challenge in collecting stunting data: Ministry
Translator: Tri A, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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