Government Provides Social Assistance For Pregnant Women And Toddlers Through PKH, Megawati Had Talked About Stunting

Illustration (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Social assistance (bansos) began to be given by the government this month. One of the recipients of this assistance is pregnant women and children aged 0-6 years.

Quoted by VOI via the Instagram account @kemensosri, Tuesday, January 12, assistance for pregnant women and toddlers is provided through the Family Hope Program (PKH).

A fund of IDR 28.7 trillion has been prepared by the government for the distribution of PKH assistance. This assistance is targeted to reach 10 million KPM families. This assistance is intended for people affected by COVID-19.

Each pregnant woman and early childhood will receive IDR 3 million per year. The government will also provide assistance through the PKH program for school children, people with disabilities, and the elderly (elderly).

In detail, the education category for elementary school children will receive assistance of Rp. 900 thousand per year, education for junior high school children Rp. 1.5 million per year, education for high school children Rp. 2 million per year, people with severe disabilities Rp. 2.4 million per year, and elderly people Rp. 2.4 million. per year.

Even so, there are obligations that must be carried out for each beneficiary family (KPM) who receives PKH assistance. Among other things, they must be registered and present at the nearest health and education facility.

Some of the obligations that must be carried out in the health sector include examining pregnant women, providing nutritional intake, immunization, and weighing the bodies of toddlers and preschool children.

Previously, on October 31 last year, the Chairperson of the PDI-P, Megawati Soekarnoputri, had mentioned that many young mothers paid less attention to nutritious food for their children.

Not infrequently among those who often give instant noodles to their children. According to Megawati, this has led to the high incidence of stunting or malnutrition.

"Pak Jokowi (President Joko Widodo) ordered children not to be stunted. Actually, what is the result of stunting, huh? As a result of his mother. I always say, mothers who do not understand nutrition, do not want to give their children healthy and healthy food. nutritious, "said Megawati when opening the National Rakorbidnas in Culture which was held online, Saturday, October 31 last year.

Megawati also explained that many young mothers or what she calls millennial mothers only provide instant noodles for their children. In fact, during its growth period, a child certainly needs adequate nutritional intake from the consumption of food provided by his mother.

"Try it now, young mothers, that's why I say, young mothers mean millennials, they only eat noodles. Noodles are sold in stalls," he said.

"Fathers too. Fathers don't want to have children wae yo," added Megawati.