Latest News From Social Minister Risma, Gets Task From Jokowi To Handle Stunting In Five Provinces

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo has assigned Social Minister Tri Rismaharini to deal with stunting in East Nusa Tenggara and four other provinces.

"I was assigned to handle stunting reduction in five provinces. I will work with the BKKBN as the chief executive of the stunting reduction program. We will start this program from the NTT province," said Social Minister Risma in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Monday, May 31.

In addition to NTT, said the Minister of Social Affairs, the areas chosen by the Ministry of Social Affairs for stunting management are also in Sulawesi and Kalimantan.

One of the efforts made by the Ministry of Social Affairs is to provide food assistance in the form of special rice that has been fortified or given additional micronutrients in the hope of meeting the nutrition of the residents.

The rice will mainly be given to young women who usually suffer from anemia due to lack of protein and nutrition.

It is hoped that with the fulfillment of nutrition starting from young women, after they grow up they will give birth to a generation that is healthy and free of stunting.

President Joko Widodo stressed to the relevant ministers to reduce the stunting rate to 14 percent by 2024 with priority in 10 provinces.

The President has appointed the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN) as the person in charge and chief executive in handling stunting. In its implementation, the BKKBN will coordinate with ministries, institutions and local governments.

In his directive, the President also requested that the socialization of stunting prevention be linked to the government's social protection programs, especially the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the distribution of Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT)/Sembako Programs and the development of basic infrastructure that reaches underprivileged families.

The 10 regions with the highest prevalence of stunting are NTT, West Sulawesi, NTB, Gorontalo, Aceh, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi, and Central Sulawesi.