"I have coordinated with the Health Minister, learning that the calculation result will be put forward in the Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) in January. Note that it is the Health Ministry, not us, that handles the assessment," he told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He highlighted that the 2023 SKI had pegged stunting prevalence at 21.5 percent, signifying that one out of five children was born in a state of malnutrition.
He underlined that in view of this, his ministry came up with the Stunting Prevention Foster Parents Movement (Genting) to bring down the incidence of childhood stunting.
The minister explained that under the program, the government is encouraging foster parents to get involved in providing children with nutrition-based and non-nutrition assistance.
"Foster parents are tasked with ensuring the fulfillment of the nutritional needs of their foster kids," he elaborated.
Referring to program transparency, Wihaji assured that the foster parents movement is designed to be executed by the people for the people without intermediaries. It will not rely on the state budget, he added.
The minister then underscored that the program is one of the quick-win initiatives devised by his office for next year's implementation. The other initiatives include the creation of excellent day care centers and the Exemplary Fathers Movement.
Further, the Population and Family Development Ministry has also set 2025 as the launch year for an artificial intelligence-powered application that will offer family counseling services and the Empowered Elderly program designed to provide community-based services for abandoned senior citizens.
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Translator: Lintang B, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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