Dineks Data, 3,874 Children In Sikka Regency, NTT Have Dwarfism, Need Optimal Handling

Illustration - A child is undergoing immunization in Kupang City, NTT. (AMONG)

JAKARTA - The Sikka District Health Office on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, noted that 3,874 children in the area had stunted problems and needed optimal treatment.

"Based on the October 2021 coordination meeting, stunting cases in Sikka were at 18.2 percent or around 3,874 stunted children spread across 21 sub-districts," said Head of the Sikka District Health Office, Petrus Herlemus in a statement received in Kupang, Antara, Thursday, January 6th.

The number of stunting cases in Sikka, he said, continued to decline when compared to the previous year in 2020 of 19.6 percent or around 4,100 children. Currently, his party is preparing to re-measure the dwarf case in February 2022.

According to him, the district government is in synergy with the village government to continue to take steps to reduce cases of stunting in children.

Based on the financing analysis, from 160 villages/kelurahan in Sikka, there are 147 villages that have provided a Village Fund budget for handling stunting.

In 13 urban villages, he said, a regional incentive fund of IDR 900 million has been allocated in 2022 for the treatment of around 150 children who are stunted.

His party applies the "Colombian method" in handling cases of stunting, namely through intervention in nutritional intake of food for children under two years of age with chicken eggs as the main protein source.

"So in February we will handle stunting children with the 'Colombian method', on an ongoing basis until they are re-evaluated in August," he said.

His party continues to oversee the handling of stunting in the villages through 25 health centers equipped with officers who provide nutrition and monitor child development.