"It is important to take and focus anti-stunting measures on villages," he remarked during the Human Development Cadre Performance Evaluation Workshop for Fiscal Year 2025, which was followed virtually in Jakarta on Thursday.
Susanto expressed confidence that village-centered efforts could help Indonesia significantly reduce its stunting prevalence to below 10 percent, from 19.8 percent reported in 2014, which indicated that 4.5 million children were affected.
He further underscored the need to build synergy among ministries and state agencies across various sectors to achieve optimal results from stunting alleviation initiatives.
In this regard, the minister pushed for the active involvement of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Health, with financial support from the World Bank.
He highlighted that the central government had channeled special funds to villages that can be utilized to finance initiatives designed to curb stunting cases among rural children.
"Everyone, especially village leaders, shares this responsibility. We have mobilized village funds, and these funds are designated to address stunting, among other issues," Susanto affirmed.
The minister went on to say that stunting goes beyond the health aspect, describing it as a critical issue that could affect the future of the nation's young talents.
"No one on this planet wants stunting. However, some people require assistance due to inadequate knowledge. Bearing that in mind, we must pour our soul and heart into this cause," he pointed out.
He also argued that improving the living standards of people, particularly those residing in rural regions, is essential to eliminating stunting.
"We will be able to suppress stunting once we have successfully alleviated poverty and realized equitable economic development. I believe that it is even possible to completely eliminate stunting," he said.
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Translator: Tri M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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