Gowa Regency Successfully Reduces Stunting to 17 Percent

GOWA - The Gowa Regency Government, South Sulawesi, has managed to reduce the prevalence rate of stunting from 21.1 percent to 17 percent based on the results of the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) 2024.

The Head of the Gowa Regency Health Office, drg Abd Haris in Gowa, Saturday, said that the success of Gowa Regency in reducing the prevalence of stunting was due to collaboration with all parties.

"We have directions and targets, all parties are involved in reducing the stunting rate to zero stunting," he said.

Abd Haris said that the achievement of Gowa Regency which was able to reduce the prevalence rate of stunting was then awarded an award from the South Sulawesi Provincial Government.

Gowa Regency managed to achieve the I Category Regency with the Best Progress in Reducing Stunting and the III Category Regency with the Best Implementation of the Stop Stunting Action Innovation from the Governor of South Sulawesi Province.

Abd Haris revealed that the first-ranking achievement was the result of collaborative work across sectors in reducing stunting rates in Gowa Regency.

This effort is carried out in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021, through the implementation of specific interventions and sensitive interventions, as well as the strengthening of the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Team (TPPS) at all levels.

In addition to the decrease in prevalence, in the Best Stop Stunting Action Innovation Category, Gowa Regency managed to become the third best because it was judged to have successfully carried out the Stop Stunting Action (ASS) innovation program which is a flagship program of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government.

Where in its implementation, each district/city determines 21 village loci, with the target of intervening 30 toddlers and 2 pregnant women in each village.

The ASS program is also strengthened by the placement of Village Nutrition Assistants who are recruited specifically, as well as involving assistant cadres and PKK Movement Teams.

The intervention is carried out through the provision of local supplementary food (PMT) for malnourished toddlers and pregnant women, as well as ongoing assistance at the village level.

"In the future, we target a reduction in the prevalence of stunting to 14 percent. This effort will continue through specific and sensitive interventions with improved service quality, as well as preventing the birth of new stunting cases," he said.