Inaugurating Clean Water Facilities, Kasad: Full Clean Water Accelerates Stunting Reduction

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko together with Kasad, TNI General Dudung Abdurachman in Lebaksang Village, Lebak Gedong village, Banten, Tuesday, July 25.

BANTEN - Air is a source of human life and all living things. Fulfilled by the need for clean water in the community through the Indonesian Army Manunggal Air program, stunting cases will be handled more quickly.

This was conveyed by the Chief of Army Staff (Kasad) General TNI Dudung Abdurachman, when inaugurating the use of clean water facilities and accelerating the handling of stunting, in Lebak Gedong Village, Lebak Gedong District, Lebak Regency, Banten Province, Tuesday, July 25.

This activity, which is a slick collaboration between the Indonesian Army and the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), aims to support the national program to accelerate stunting reduction in several parts of Indonesia.

Where the purpose of the Manunggal Air Program and the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction is to create a generation of healthy, intelligent and productive nations, and to be able to compete in global competition.

The Manunggal Air program is realized by making drill wells at 615 points, hydram pumps at 646 points, and gravitational wells at 84 locations spread throughout the country, and is targeted to provide benefits to 240,049 families (KK), or more than 654,000 people.

The inauguration of the use of clean water facilities in 2023 is carried out simultaneously throughout Indonesia. However, the central inauguration was carried out in Lebak Gedong Village, Lebak, Banten, and was attended directly by Kasad, Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) General TNI (Ret.) Moeldoko, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Pangkostrad Lt. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak.

There is also Danpusterad Lt. Gen. Teguh Muji Angkasa, Pangdam III/Siliwangi Major General TNI Kunto Arif Wibowo, Director of Drinking Water Director General of Cipta Karya Anang Mukhlis representing the Minister of PUPR, Deputy for Social Welfare Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture R Nunung Nuruanto, representing the Minister of PMK, and Assistant Kasad.

In this activity which was also held virtually through Video Conference to all ranks of the Indonesian Army throughout Indonesia, Kasad said that the initial initiation of the Manunggal Air Program was carried out in the area of Kodam IX/Udayana.

Namun kini telah menjadi program nasional, dalam upaya pemenuhan kebutuhan air bersih bagi masyarakat yang kesulitan mendapatkan air bersih, serta muaranya dapat mempercepat penurunan stunting.

Kasad said that the Manunggal Air program had existed for a long time, and of course it was in line with the President's order to overcome the impact of Covid-19 in various fields.

"Therefore, I convey in seven Kasad Daily Orders that the Army must be present in the midst of the people and the Army must have an impact wherever they are. Some places that have not been reached by water have now been covered with clean water, because people's welfare is the main thing," said Kasad.

In line with Kasad, the Head of KSP Moeldoko explained the link between the fulfillment of clean water and the stunting level in Indonesia. He said that water contributed as much as 40 percent to the stunting rate.

"With this Manunggal Air Program, Mr. Kasad and his staff were able to reduce the prevalence of 40 percent overall stunting reduction," he said.

On the same occasion, the Head of BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo said that the role of the TNI was extraordinary in the welfare of the people. Where in addition to Manunggal Air, the Babinsa Program Enters the Kitchen initiated by Kasad, according to him, it also greatly helps the government in accelerating stunting reduction.

He also revealed that the Ambassador, Mr. Asuh Anak Stunting, which was initiated by Kasad, had triggered regional heads to participate as Ambassadors to Foster Stunting Children throughout Indonesia.

In addition to the inauguration of the use of clean water facilities, this activity in Lebak, Banten is also coupled with the provision of stunting nutrition for 350 stunting children (a total of 67,631 stunting nutrition packages for all over Kotama), social assistance in the form of 1,500 parcel packages for underprivileged residents and 500 free market packages.

There were also mass circumcision activities, accompanied by the provision of parcels of 150 packages and 162 pairs of shoes, implantation KB Method Contraception (MKJP) services for 100 acceptors at the local health facilities and health centers, as well as the inauguration of the rehabilitation of Uninhabitable Houses (RTLH), and the review of MSMEs.