Take Advantage Of Makanai Plants To Prevent Stunting

Students of SMPK Amazed by Banjarmasin won the General Champion of KIHAJAR STEM. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - SMPK Badminton Banjarmasin won the National KIHAJAR STEM 2023 National Champion, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbud Ristek) of the Republic of Indonesia.

Marvello Sunny Wijaya, Michael Frederick Sindunata, and Alfanno Husodo who are students from SMPK Amazing Banjarmasin who managed to advance to the 2023 STEM KIHAJAR Final and won the overall champion.

The three of them won the title by utilizing the Makalai plant to prevent stunting in children.

In the competition, the three students of SMPK Embarrass Banjarmasin chose the theme Food Security and Nutrition.

Under the guidance of Andreas Febri Kris Kurniadi, who is a teacher from SMPK Kristen, they chose to examine the benefits of local plants that are easy to find and quite popular in the Banjarmasin area.

"We also chose to be the object of research and materials brought to take part in the Kihajar STEM 2023 competition," said Andreas.

It is known, the Makalai plant is a type of nail called lemidy (Stenochlaena hammerstris) and is known as a joke in Central Kalimantan.

Mocks are found on the island of Kalimantan and their habitats in peatlands, freshwater, and shrubs. Shocks have two types, red and green colors.

In conducting research, the joke contains iron and vitamin C which is quite high, so that it can be used to overcome stunting cases that are rampant in Indonesia.

Andreas added, from the results of consultations with nutrition doctors, the risk of stunting can be higher when teenagers or women are pregnant, they lack iron.

"Our research fits the national and local issues that are focusing on overcoming stunting," he said.

According to Andreas, the trials that have been carried out so far are only to take part in the competition. However, there is a desire to continue this research until it is inaugurated and licensed by BPOM, so that the research works of Marvello, Michael and Alfanno do not stop in the race stage.

But moreover, it can be taken out of SMPK Badminton Banjarmasin and can provide wider benefits to the people in Indonesia.

As we all know that, KIHAJAR STEM itself is an annual Competition Program organized by the Center for Technology Platform Service (BLPT) Pusdatin Kemendikbudristek.

This program is participated by the team as a forum for exploration for students in Indonesia to have Christian, creative, collaborative, and communicative thinking skills in solving problems based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

"The purpose of activities is so that our students get used to thinking Christianly, creatively, collaboratively and are able to communicate in solving problems based on STEM (Science, Technology, Economy and Mathematics)", said Head of Pusdatin Kemendikbudristek Muhammad Hasan Chabibie.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Culture Suharti expressed his deep appreciation to students who have excelled in realizing concern for the environment.

"Congratulations also to the children, students who received appreciation from Gen KIHAJAR 2023. You have proven that learning is not only in class. You have proven your concern for the environment," he said.

This achievement is not the first time Christian School has participated in KIHAJAR STEM.

In 2022, SMPK Inaugurated Banjarmasin came out as the overall champion with skincare products that utilize nutrients from hyacinth plants.