The DKI Provincial Government Has Demanded A Decrease In Stunting Cases, The DPRD Asks For Posyandu Facilities To Be UPgraded

PMI officers conduct child nutrition examinations/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - Member of Commission E of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Idris Ahmad, asked the DKI Provincial Government to make a breakthrough in efforts to intervene in reducing stunting cases, which is currently being intensified by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono. According to Idris, one thing that must also be considered is the integrated service post (posyandu) as a child health care service at the RT and RW levels. Posyandu health facilities, he said, need to be improved. "In my opinion, the most accurate “ Strategy (stunting reduction) is the strengthening of posyandu, toddlers throughout Jakarta, posyandu equipment in the form of anthropometry must also be standardized so that the results of the monitoring are accurate," said Idris to reporters, Friday, February 3. Unfortunately, continued Idris, currently many posyandu do not optimally have equipment such as scales to measuring height, and even have to ask for help from person to person. In addition, the government also needs to increase the honorarium for posyandu cadres at the regional level to support the activities of cadres who are local people. "We can increase the honorarium for posyandu cadres, which is still very minimal, so that they are more active in monitoring the growth and development of toddlers in each region," he said. Furthermore, Idris asked the DKI Provincial Government to improve the quality of the provision of additional food (PMT) to support the growth and development of toddlers. " “ PMT is currently price per unit is still at Rp. 10 thousand. We can increase it again to support the fulfillment of nutrition for Jakarta children, including providing a budget for food assistance for stunted children," he said. Stunting is a serious problem for President Joko Widodo. Jokowi also targets the stunting rate in Indonesia to drop to 14 percent by 2024. As of 2022, the national average stunting rate is at 21 percent. Yesterday, the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, said that his staff had gone down to a place to collect data on the identities of residents suspected of stunting. This follows up on the direction of the central government which targets a reduction in stunting rates in Indonesia and an agreement with the Ministry of Health regarding the synchronization of data on stunting intervention targets. "Coordinated by the Assistant for Government, all mayors, to the lurah, the PPAPP Service, the Health Service, today went to the field to collect data that is said to be stunting," Heru said when met in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, Thursday, February 2. In addition, Heru also instructed his staff to meet pregnant women in Jakarta and asked them to check their health at the puskesmas. Heru said that stunting prevention efforts in children were more effective with the target of pregnant women. According to Heru, when health care facilities find out about the condition of pregnant women based on the results of the examination, the government can find out the targets of the community who need assistance in improving their nutrition. "If she is malnourished, anemia, we intervene, making it easier for pregnant women to get pregnant. Now everything is running throughout the city," he explained.