Nutrition Support Program is an Effective Effort to Prevent Stunting

JAKARTA - Stunting is still one of the health challenges in children in Indonesia. This is a condition of growth and development disorders in children due to chronic malnutrition and repeated infections.

Thus, the prevention and treatment of stunting must continue to be carried out by the government and collaboration with the private sector. One of the efforts that can be done is by providing nutritional education and parenting patterns for children.

As done by Nestlé Indonesia with the 2025 Nutrition Support Program series with all cross-sector partners. Starting from the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga), TP PKK Batang Regency, Professor of Food and Nutrition IPB Prof. Ali Khomsan, and Edu Farmers.

"We believe that the challenge of child nutrition cannot be solved through short-term efforts. This program is designed with the principles of evidence-based intervention, regular monitoring, and cross-sector partnerships," said Marketing Manager of PT Nestle Indonesia, Ankur Mittal, during a media meeting in Kebayoran, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

The program was carried out for six months from July 2025 to January 2026, which reached 598 families with children at risk of stunting through the assistance of 147 cadres, as well as education training for 520 pregnant and lactating mothers in Karawang, Batang, and Pasuruan Regency.

Based on joint monitoring with academic partners, the program showed a decrease in the prevalence of underweigh (underweight) and severe underweight (very low weight) by 22.5 percent, accompanied by improvements in child growth indicators, and an increase in family understanding regarding daily nutrition.

"Collaboration between the government and the private sector, as carried out by PT Nestlé Indonesia, has strategic value in expanding the reach of interventions, accelerating behavioral changes, and ensuring the sustainability of programs," said Acting Director of Community Participation and Development of the Ministry of Health/BKKBN, Dr. Yuni Hastutiningsih, SKM., M.Kes.

In addition to improving growth indicators, this program also increases the capacity of families and cadres in implementing practices for children's energy fulfillment, consumption variations, and regular monitoring of growth and development.

The consistency of mentoring cadres ensures that interventions do not stop at providing intake, but continue to become better eating habits at the household level as part of efforts to prevent child nutrition problems.

Professor of Food and Nutrition at IPB, Prof. Ali Khomsan, said that a simple approach such as nutrition education and guidance that is carried out consistently can have a significant impact in dealing with stunting.

"Monitoring results show an increase in indicators of weight and height of children, as well as a decrease in the prevalence of underweight by 22.5%. This confirms that interventions based on animal protein combined with daily energy intake and family education, if carried out consistently and monitored, can have a real impact," added Prof. Ali.

Not only that, the Nutrition Support Program is not just a short-term intervention. It is also a model of a sustainable approach that strengthens the capacity of families, cadres, and communities in maintaining good nutrition practices at the household level, in line with Nestlé's global commitment to support 50 million children to live healthier by 2030.