In 3 Months, The Mayor Calls Stunting Rate In Banda Aceh Down To 7.4 Percent

Acting Mayor of Banda Aceh Bakri Siddiq with his wife while playing with children during the HKN commemoration, in Banda Aceh/ANTARA

BANDA ACEH - Acting (Pj) Mayor of Banda Aceh Bakri Siddiq stated that the stunting rate in the capital city of Aceh province had been successfully lowered in the last three months to 7.4 percent. "In the last three months, Banda Aceh has succeeded in reducing stunting rates and recording the best achievements in Aceh," said Bakri Siddiq in Banda Aceh when officially opening the peak of the 58th HKN commemoration at the Banda Aceh City level, Antara, Tuesday, November 15. At the event entitled "Bangkit Indonesiaku, Sehat Negeriku", Bakri said, last August the stunting rate in Banda Aceh was approximately 18.2 percent, then managed to reduce to only 7.4 percent. Meanwhile, the number of toddlers in Banda Aceh is currently around 7,828 people. "In December 2022, we are targeting it to decrease again to five percent (decreasing the stunting rate)," he said. Bakri said, although the stunting rate has decreased, the complete immunization achievement in Banda Aceh is still relatively low, which is 36 percent, and is in sixth position in Aceh province. "For this reason, I invite all relevant ranks and stakeholders to move quickly to increase complete immunization coverage for a healthier future generation," he said. On this occasion, Bakri hopes that Banda Aceh can become a reference for Aceh province in all fields, including health, because it must be maintained and improved. Moreover, Banda Aceh is currently one of the areas with the highest living index in Aceh with 71.4 percent, even exceeding the province with only 69 percent. However, this figure is still slightly lower or below the national average which reached 73.5 percent. "Let's both pursue this double-digit difference, by promoting a healthy diet and life. The life expectancy is important because it reflects the success of the development of our city's health sector," said Bakri Siddiq.