Central Government Disburses IDR 28 Billion To Handle Stunting In Central Lombok NTB

Weighing babies to prevent stunting (ANTARA)

PRAYA - The Central Government has allocated IDR 28 billion to support the reduction in stunting cases in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) in 2023.

"The funds are given in the hope of accelerating the reduction in stunting cases in Central Lombok," said Head of Central Lombok Bappeda, Lalu Wiranata, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 20.

The Rp28 billion fund was used to provide additional food for pregnant women of Rp5.6 billion, provide additional food for toddlers of Rp5.3 billion and special operational assistance (BOK) of Rp11.09 billion. The funds are used for the purpose of stunting in Central Lombok to reach 14 percent according to the target from the central government.

"The funds are for providing additional nutritionally valuable foods," he said.

He said, based on temporary data, the number of stunting cases in Central Lombok reached 20 percent or 18 thousand toddlers in stunting cases, so Central Lombok was ranked 8 out of 10 regencies/cities in West Nusa Tenggara.

He said all stunting cases in Central Lombok had decreased, because in early 2023 there was still no data collection related to stunting cases. With the assistance of these funds, it is hoped that stunting cases in Central Lombok can decrease as planned.

"Sunting cases can decrease to 16 percent in 2023, so that 2024 can reach 14 percent according to national targets," he said.

In addition to using aid funds from the government, the reduction in stunting cases in Central Lombok has also been budgeted for in the 2023 APBD.

"Local governments have also allocated funds to accelerate the reduction in stunting rates in Central Lombok," he said.