Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Alms Agency (Baznas) bolstered synergy with the Population and Family Development Ministry/National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) to pave the way for a stunting-free Indonesia.

Leaders of the two state institutions held a meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday (December 10).

"Baznas has been cooperating with BKKBN, and the next plan is for us to focus more on stunting alleviation programs in Indonesia," Baznas Head Noor Achmad noted in his agency's statement cited here on Wednesday.

As a strategic partner to the BKKBN, Achmad affirmed that Baznas would make the most of its zakat, or Islamic alms, programs to help deal with stunting comprehensively by ensuring that the alms collected genuinely benefit those in need.

BKKBN Head Wihaji, for his part, emphasized the importance of institutions working in collaboration to address issues related to stunting, which have been declared a national priority.

Related news: Minister highlights importance of precise stunting policies

In the same statement, he highlighted his ministry's Stunting Prevention Foster Parents Movement (Genting) program, where the government seeks to intervene and aid at least one million families.

"Under this program, the BKKBN and Baznas will focus on assisting families at risk of stunting through early preventive measures. We, at the ministry, are tasked with carrying out preventive and mobilizing actions to avert stunting cases," he pointed out.

Wihaji further elaborated on the program, saying that it will target families at risk of stunting, particularly those with pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as mothers taking care of toddlers or children up to 23 months of age.

He remarked that the program covers nutrition-based assistance and non-nutritional interventions, which include infrastructure improvements, such as toilet and house renovations, provision of clean water, and educational initiatives focused on preventing and handling stunting.

"Our collaboration aligns with the instruction conveyed by the president (Prabowo Subianto) because we cannot work alone to govern this country," he stated.

Related news: Stunting: One mln at-risk families to get foster program support



Related news: New anti-stunting program success to rely on data: Minister

Translator: Sean F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2024