The Foster Parental Movement Is Considered Effective In Reducing Stunting Rates In Indonesia

Illustration of foster parent assistance to prevent stunting (Freepik)

JAKARTA - Minister of Population and Family Development/Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) Wihaji has a new program to reduce stunting rates in the country.

He referred to the program as the Foster Parents Movement which was considered more effective in reducing the stunting rate.

"We present the Foster Parent Movement to prevent stunting for one million children in Indonesia, because the state cannot overcome all community problems, so it requires foster parents. So (parents who care for) based on data, everyone handles how many children to provide adequate facilities," said Wihaji, as quoted by Antara.

In this movement, later foster parents will provide support in the form of clean sanitation to nutritious food until stunting problems decrease, even to zero.

"We help many people, it is hoped that from many people, one of them can be useful. People now need concrete programs," he said.

Wihaji also emphasized that in order to prepare superior Human Resources (HR) or the golden generation, stunting must be treated immediately through education, nutritional intake, and good parenting.

According to him, the right target will have a significant impact on the results, because the specific handling of one foster parent for one child is considered to be of higher quality than only providing egg assistance.

"The emphasis on quality compared to quantity is the idea of the movement," he said.

He also stated that stunting management can also at the same time overcome the phenomenon of reluctance to have children or childfree, which is one of the root problems starting from the economy.

"Today's phenomenon is childfree in several cities in Indonesia. This is one indicator of happiness, because they think too much about what their child will be fed later, what work will be left to take care of, and so on," said Wihaji.

According to him, with the state present to provide a safe and comfortable space, it is hoped that it can reduce people's concerns about their future, economy and life.

"The handling of stunting will create a golden generation. This generation is believed to be able to be a leverage for Indonesia in the eyes of the world, as well as the welfare of the people in it, including overcoming childfree problems," he said.