Stunting Can Be Triggered From Uninhabitable Houses, Jokowi: Today I Saw It Live In NTT

President Jokowi held a working visit in Kesetnana Village, South Central Timor Regency, NTT (24/3/2022). (ANTARA/Hreeloita Dharma Shanti)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said stunting in children (stunting) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) could be triggered by a number of factors, one of which was an uninhabitable house.

"Today, I saw directly in the field, we know that on average, those who suffer from stunting do live in houses that are unfit for habitation," said Joko Widodo in Timor Tengah Selatan, NTT, Thursday, March 24.

During his visit to Kesetnana Village, South Central Timor Regency, NTT, the President said an intervention was needed that could solve the problem of uninhabitable houses.

Through an integrated intervention, the President, who is familiarly called Jokowi, feels he can solve the problem of uninhabitable houses, including water and sanitation in households in East Nusa Tenggara.

"The water issue is not an easy matter, it is also done, integrated, all of which have led to the target that we want to achieve 14 percent (shortage)," said Jokowi.

In addition to highlighting the problem of uninhabitable houses, Jokowi also highlighted the importance of nutrition interventions for children so that stunting does not occur.

According to him, conducting nutritional interventions for children who are stunted, not only providing additional food, but also the health conditions of the prospective bride and groom that must be prepared even before getting married.

This monitoring is carried out by providing assistance to each prospective bride so that after marriage the prospective parents know what to do regarding child nutrition.

“They know what to prepare before getting married, before getting pregnant and know very well what to do because not all brides know. Even though you have a lot of money, if you don't know what to do, it will be wrong to be prepared," said Jokowi.

Jokowi asked all governments, from the central government to local governments to the community, to work together to eradicate the problem of stunting so that the target of 14 percent by 2024 is achieved.

"Without the integrated work of the district/city government, city government, central government and the entire community, I think it will be very difficult to achieve the targets we have set," he said.

Previously, data from the 2021 Indonesian Nutrition Status Study (SSGI) revealed that Timor Tengah Selatan Regency was the area with the highest stunting rate in East Nusa Tenggara, which was 48.3 percent.

In fact, nationally, the district is ranked first for the prevalence of stunting among 246 districts/cities in 12 priority provinces.