“There are three important steps that must be taken to prevent stunting cases, right from the nutrition or food side to education for prevention and mobilization, and the issue of water, which is also crucial,” Deputy Minister Isyana Bagoes Oka remarked in Central Lampung on Friday night.
Oka emphasized that implementing clean sanitation practices and eliminating open defecation are essential priorities alongside consistently educating the public.
“One of the efforts to achieve this is through latrine renovation for houses that do not yet have proper toilets. Such steps aim to prevent stunting,” the deputy minister added.
According to Oka, activities to provide clean water, build better sanitation facilities, and educate communities against open defecation should be carried out collaboratively across various sectors and agencies and with corporate and private sector involvement.
“Corporations can assist vulnerable families in addressing stunting by providing clean water and healthy toilets by name, by address basis. This intervention step is being taken to ensure that the program reached right on target so that the quality of life of families at risk of stunting improves,” she remarked.
Her team will continue to educate the public to maintain cleanliness, encourage people to end open defecation, and provide sanitation and clean water sources.
“Of course, all ministries must collaborate and campaign for education on this issue because cleanliness is extremely important. We know that when cleanliness is not maintained, it impacts health and indirectly affects human quality as well,” Deputy Minister Oka stated.
Lampung Province's stunting rate fell to 14.9 percent in 2024, down 0.3 percent from last year, with Bandar Lampung and Pesisir Barat regions recording rates below one percent, according to provincial BKKBN data.
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Translator: Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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