The ministry's assistant deputy for fulfillment of children's rights to health and education, Amurwani Dwi Lestariningsih, said on Thursday that the ministry has issued several policies by involving relevant ministries as well as private parties to boost education on children's nutritional fulfillment.
She made the statement at the launch of the ENOUGH campaign by Wahana Visi Indonesia in Jakarta on Thursday.
"After the ratification of the Maternal and Child Welfare Law (KIA Law), we are seeking to ensure (nutritional fulfillment) in the first 1,000 days of life, during which children need exclusive breastfeeding, at least until six months," she said.
For this reason, her ministry is also working to ensure the availability of lactation rooms for breastfeeding mothers in offices, including private companies.
The ministry has appealed to parents not to give formula milk in the first thousand days of life because of potential issues, ranging from the cleanliness of water and milk bottles to the sugar content in the milk.
The ministry has also urged entrepreneurs from the Indonesian Children's Friends Entrepreneurs Association (APSAI) to voluntarily reduce the levels of sugar, salt, and fat in various food and beverage products, in compliance with the Ministry of Health's regulations.
Lestariningsih affirmed that her ministry is intensifying the implementation of the Child-Friendly School policy to ensure that every school is free from smoking and has a healthy canteen, as well as bolstering the function of school health units (UKS).
She noted that together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, her ministry is expanding the function of the health units.
"UKS does not only serve children who are sick but also provides education on reproductive health together with the nearest community health center," she added.
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Translator: Hana Dewi, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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