Reducing Stunting Rates And Poverty With Special Handling
JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has made efforts to overcome stunting through various programs, including improving maternal and child health services, an optimal campaign to feed infants and children, as well as increasing access to clean water and sanitation. However, there is still much to be done to reduce stunting prevalence in Indonesia and ensure that all children have the opportunity to get their rights.
According to the results of the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) of the Ministry of Health, the prevalence of stunting for children under the age of 5 (toddlers) of DKI Jakarta will reach 14.8% in 2022. This means that around 14 out of 100 toddlers in the capital city have a height below the average age of children.
The prevalence rate for stunting in DKI Jakarta has decreased compared to 2021, as well as reaching its best level in the last seven years.
In 2022, the DKI Jakarta area with the largest prevalence of stunting is the Thousand Islands, while the lowest is South Jakarta.
Quoting Katadata, Novita Agustina, Ns, M.Kep, Sp.Kep. A., stated that stunting is closely related to malnutrition.
"Stunting in children is the impact of nutritional deficiency during the first thousand days of life. This causes irreversible physical development disorders of children, causing a decline in work performance," said Novita, launching Yankes.kemkes.co.id
"Insistent growth and development in children due to malnutrition, if they do not get intervention early on, it will continue into adulthood," he continued.
Stunting In The Regions
The high number of stunting cases in an area depends on the value of economic growth. An interesting example, in West Kalimantan Province, Maluku Province and Bukittinggi City are examples of areas that are able to overcome and improve the economy.
Currently, West Kalimantan's economic growth reaches 5.01% with a poverty rate of 6.73% and an open unemployment rate of 4.86%.
Even though stunting cases are currently high, at 29.8%, it can be overcome with efforts to increase the status of underdeveloped villages to independent villages. With the increasing number of independent villages, it is hoped that stunting cases can be reduced. " said the Governor of West Kalimantan, Sutarmidji in a public lecture at the Jatinangor Institute of Domestic Administration (IPDN), Sumedang, West Java, Wednesday, March 8.
"With the increasing number of independent villages, it is hoped that stunting cases can be reduced," he added.
The problem of stunting or disruption of growth and development of children and poverty is considered necessary for special handling. Even Sutamidji gave his views in a public lecture at the Jatinangor Institute of Domestic Administration (IPDN), Sumedang, which is one of a series of activities to welcome the 67th IPDN Anniversary which will be held on March 17, 2023.
Sutamidji conveyed a message for IPDN Praja not to manipulate data. Because data regarding an area will be used as a basis for policy making in an effort to reduce stunting rates.