600 Children Experiencing Dwarfism In Ambon City

AMBON - Data from the Ambon City Health Office shows that as many as 600 of the 13,122 children in Ambon City, Maluku Province experienced stunted or stunted growth.

"At least 600 children aged 0-59 months in 38 priority loci in Ambon City experienced short and very short growth or stunting", said Head of Public Health of the Ambon Health Office, Yusda Tuharea, in Ambon, Tuesday, March 8.

He said 38 loci were spread over five sub-districts, the most of which were in Wayame Village, namely 75 toddlers out of a target of 364 toddlers, namely ages 0-23 months 30 toddlers and ages 24-59 months 45 toddlers or 12.9 percent. Furthermore, Tihu and Rijali sub-districts have 35 children under five.

The Ambon City Government, he said, will set 12 loci of stunting in four sub-districts in 2021. By 2022, this will increase to 38 loci in five sub-districts. "We are committed to reducing the stunting rate to 14 percent by 2024", he said.

The Health Office continues to socialize the First 1,000 Days of Life (HPK) program, which is a phase of life that starts from the formation of the fetus during pregnancy (270 days) until the child is 2 years old (730 days).

"In this period the vital organs (brain, liver, heart, kidneys, bones, hands or arms, legs, and other body organs) begin to form and continue to develop", he said.

In addition, the treatment is carried out comprehensively starting from adolescents through youth care health service programs, namely reproductive health counseling, giving blood-added tablets for adolescents and women of childbearing age.

Then, pregnant women are subjected to antenatal care (ANC) examinations, mothers in labor, monitoring of postpartum mothers, and examinations for infants 0-6 months.

"This stunting case is actually triggered by several factors, including parenting and nutritional patterns, so assistance must be provided", he said.