Deputy Chairperson Of The MPR Asks To Accelerate The Decline In Stunting Cases

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Lestari Moerdijat asked for an acceleration of achieving the stunting prevalence target in children or stunting in Indonesia, as an effort to reduce cases by involving trained health workers and communities.

"The involvement of health workers and trained communities is very important in accelerating the reduction in the number of stunting cases in the country," said Lestari Moerdijat as quoted by Antara, Sunday, March 26.

The support of trained personnel in reducing the number of stunting cases is important in an effort to accelerate the achievement of stunting prevalence targets in children in the country.

Previously, Thursday, March 24, the Regional Board of the Indonesian National Nurses Association (DPD PPNI) of Surabaya City deployed at least 1,500 nurses to handle and prevent indications of stunting toddler symptoms in the City of Heroes.

Thousands of nurses prioritized efforts to handle and prevent indications of stunting toddler symptoms in four sub-districts in Surabaya, East Java.

According to Lestari, what the nurses did in Surabaya could also be done in a number of areas with a high number of stunting cases.

"Because, although Indonesia has now reduced the stunting rate from 24.4 percent in 2021 to 21.6 percent last year, there is still a lot to be done to achieve the target of 14 percent by the end of 2024," he explained.

He also encouraged stakeholders at the central and regional levels to actively increase community literacy related to the adequacy of family nutrition in every household in the country.

"Involving skilled health workers in detecting nutritional adequacy of children and toddlers as well as prospective brides and grooms is a strategic step to accelerate efforts to reduce the number of stunting cases in the country," he said.

Of course, these efforts must be followed by the consistency of stakeholders in detecting adequacy and balanced nutritional intake in every family member in their respective regions.

"A strong commitment from stakeholders at the center and regions is needed in an effort to create a strong and resilient nation's children in order to be able to answer various challenges in the future," said Lestari Moerdijat.