Stunting Cases In Lombok Claimed To Be Lower Than The National Target Of 14 Percent

PRAYA - Central Lombok Regency Government, West Nusa Tenggara Province recorded the number of stunting cases until August 2023 reached 13.34 percent or below the national target, which was 14 percent.

"Stunting cases in Central Lombok have decreased to 13.34 percent or 12,446 stunting toddlers from the total 18 thousand stunting cases in 2022," said Head of Central Lombok Bapperinda, Lalu Wiranata, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 2.

The significant decrease in stunting cases in Central Lombok in 2023 cannot be separated from the programs that have been carried out by all OPD in mutual cooperation, including the provision of additional food to stunting toddlers.

"This means that the program that has been implemented has started to produce results," he said.

The stunting case in Central Lombok in 2020 reached 20 percent of the 18 thousand stunting toddlers. Then in May 2023 it fell to 17 percent after the stunting acceleration program was carried out.

In addition, the local government carried out cooperation in reducing stunting with the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government and from the results of the evaluation until August stunting in Central Lombok fell to 13.34 percent.

"Indeed, nationally 14 percent must be achieved in 2024. However, Central Lombok is currently below the national target," he said.

Meanwhile, the total budget allocated by the government to accelerate stunting reduction reached Rp100 billion from both the central and provincial governments and local governments.

The budget for the stunting acceleration program is not only given to OPD, but is given to all Puskesmas in Central Lombok for the additional food supply program (PMT).

In handling stunting, it is not only a matter of providing nutritious food, but in terms of physical development, it has also changed one of the programs to accelerate stunting reduction.

"Physical development such as the construction of bore wells and socialization in changing healthy living behavior," he said.

He is optimistic that stunting cases in Central Lombok can continue to decline until the end of 2023, because the acceleration of stunting cases is currently being handled by all parties, not just one OPD.

"The stunting case in Central Lombok could drop to 12 percent by the end of 2023," he said.