The Third Wave Of COVID-19 Complicates Reducing Stunting Rates

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives Netty Prasetiyani Aher views that the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to implement one of Indonesia's health programs, namely reducing stunting.

"With the threat of a third wave, the task of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) to reduce stunting rates are getting more and more difficult. The 2024 target is to decrease 10.4 percent, which is 14 percent. BKKBN is working hard to achieve this target in the midst of a pandemic," said Netty in a written statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 2.

Therefore, he asked the government to immediately anticipate so that the third wave would not damage the stunting rate reduction target and ensure that the program's strategic steps could still be implemented in the field.

Furthermore, Netty explained the challenges that must be overcome by the government in order to achieve the stunting reduction target.

First, he said, it was necessary to synchronize data belonging to the Social Welfare Integrated Data (DTKS) of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs with data belonging to the BKKBN.

Thus, according to Netty, misinterpretation of data on families at risk of stunting can be avoided so that it does not have an impact on making wrong policies and makes it difficult to reduce stunting rates.

Furthermore, there are also challenges related to the provision of clean water infrastructure and healthy latrines for Indonesian families, especially during a pandemic that is prone to virus transmission.

"In addition to chronic energy and nutritional deficiencies, the indirect cause of stunting is the lack of access to clean water and healthy latrines. How is it possible for families to meet their nutritional needs, if clean water is difficult to obtain," he said.

In fact, data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2020 noted that there were still 9.79 percent of Indonesian households that did not yet have access to proper drinking water sources.

Then the third challenge is that the government needs to give attention and support to the driving cadres who are the spearhead of stunting handling in the field.

"The cadres of family planning field officers (PLKB) and posyandu (integrated service post) as valuable assets of the BKKBN need to be given training to improve their competence. Their welfare and social security also need to be considered. Do not let the government pressure cadres to work optimally to serve the community, but support for competency improvement and welfare guarantees is ignored," he pleaded.

Another challenge that the government must solve, said Netty, is to build coordination and collaboration with every stakeholder.

"BKKBN as the leader of the stunting reduction sector must be able to show strong leadership. Build synergy and collaboration in solving these challenges. The stunting reduction program will not succeed if it is faced with the sectoral ego or 'silo' mentality (prioritizing individual achievements) of the stakeholders," said Netty.

Then, Netty also appealed to the government to stay focused on stunting reduction efforts that were adapted to the pandemic conditions and the threat of the third wave of COVID-19.

"The discipline of health protocols must be reminded to the public. It starts with the family. Don't be careless so that we don't regret it because the pandemic has taken many things from our lives," said the Deputy Chair of the PKS Faction of the DPR RI.