Palu Mayor Hadianto Rasyid said the recognition motivates local officials to keep improving performance in reducing stunting prevalence.
He said the achievement reflects the joint efforts of all regional offices and stakeholders committed to implementing sustainable intervention programs.
According to the Ministry of Health’s Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI), Palu’s stunting rate stands at about 25.6 percent and continues to decline toward the national target of 14 percent.
“Our commitment to lowering stunting rates is realized through integrated programs to build a healthy, intelligent, and high-quality generation in Palu,” Hadianto said in a statement on Thursday.
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya presented the award to Hadianto during the 2025 National Coordination Meeting on Stunting Reduction in Jakarta on Wednesday (Nov. 12).
Hadianto said the award reaffirms the city’s vision of a “Sustainable, Accelerative, Innovative, and Collaborative Palu,” with public health as a key priority in regional development.
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The city has also involved community groups and private partners through programs such as the Healthy Kitchen Movement and the Foster Father Movement to Prevent Stunting (Genting) as part of its convergence-based strategy.
He called for greater private sector engagement to support the government’s efforts through social and health-based initiatives.
During the same event, Palu received more than Rp6.1 billion ($375,000) in fiscal incentives from the central government for effective stunting reduction performance.
“These funds will strengthen prevention programs, as effective interventions need solid financial support,” Hadianto said.
Stunting, a chronic growth disorder caused by long-term malnutrition and infections during early childhood, remains a national concern. Indonesia’s stunting rate fell to 19.8 percent in 2024, down from 21.5 percent in 2023, reflecting stronger coordination among government agencies and community health workers.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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