Criticizes The Ministry Giving Biscuits Assistance To Prevent Stunting, Jokowi: Give Eggs And Fish

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) criticized the relevant ministries for providing biscuit assistance to prevent stunting in children.

Jokowi proposed that the assistance provided still contain high nutrients such as eggs and fish. The head of state said that the process of procuring both types of food consumption for children to prevent stunting was not difficult so there were no obstacles.

"Because what I have seen in the past, the ministry is still giving biscuits to children. Choose the easy one. I know, the auction is easy. As for the eggs, this fish spoils easily, the eggs are easily damaged. It's easy, just find what's easy. Don't do it again, stop. If the baby must be given eggs, yes give eggs, give fish, yes just give fish," said Jokowi, as quoted from the Ministry of Health's website, Thursday, January 26.

Jokowi conveyed this while giving a speech at the Opening of the National Working Meeting for the Family Development, Population and Family Planning Program (Banggakencana) and Reducing Stunting at the Halim Perdanakusuma BKKBN Auditorium, Jakarta, Wednesday 25 January.

According to him, the problem of stunting in the country is a very big homework that must be resolved immediately.

“I entered in 2014, the rate was 37 percent. As stated by the Minister of Health, in 2022 the rate has fallen to 21.6 percent," he said.

Jokowi emphasized that the problem of stunting is not only a matter of height but also cognitive abilities and immunity in children.

"The impact of stunting is not only a matter of height, but what is most dangerous is a child's low ability to learn, mental retardation, and the emergence of chronic diseases that can easily affect a child's body," said Jokowi.