A Case Audit Is Needed To Map Stunting Prevention

Head of BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo at the Kick Off Audit of Stunting Cases in Jakarta, Rabau (18/1/2023) (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) said strengthening the audit of stunting cases could be used as a lesson to prevent similar cases from appearing in the nation's children in the future.

The audit of stunting cases has strengthened the practice of sharing using data at the field level. Through an audit of stunting cases that rely on mainly routine surveillance results, which are rich in data and information by name by address," said Head of BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo in the Kick Off Audit of Stunting Cases which was followed online in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Hasto said there were seven things that became a concern in the audit of stunting cases, namely the first audit of stunting cases was one of the priority activities of the National Action Plan for the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction (RAN PASTI).

Based on the Morena application, as of January 6, 2023, it is known that the realization of the stunting case audit still needs to be increased, because it has only reached 76 percent with a wide inter-district/city variation.

The second thing, which is related to technical instructions for the use of the Family Planning Operational Assistance (BOKB) fund, which still has to be maximally absorbed by BKKBN Representatives in the regions.

Furthermore, the purpose of the audit of stunting cases is to find the main cause of the risk of stunting. However, it is focused on prospective brides, pregnant women, nifas mothers, abusers, toddlers or the risk of stunting inFORmous / toddlers.

"It is necessary to unravel the risk factors of each audit target group specifically and formulate together in the form of programs and activities that can overcome the risk in question," he said.

Another thing that needs to be considered in the audit of stunting cases is layered coordination that must continue to be built and strengthened from the central, regional and village governments in each district/city.

Hasto mentioned that there is an audit of stunting cases, which can be integrated well with the program of Mr. Stunting Children's Orphanage (BAAS).

Through the sources of Family Data Collection (PK), e-PPGBM, Elsimil and other data, there has been data sharing since the selection of cases, assistance and audit evaluation. This positive spirit needs to be maintained as part of a quality surveillance data demand platform," he said.

In addition, another thing that needs to be considered is the task force to accelerate stunting reduction formed by BKKBN, from the center to districts/cities to become facilitators of various strategic activities including audits of stunting cases.

Hasto added that evaluation is one of the most important stages in auditing stunting cases. By conducting an evaluation, BKKBN can be more mature in evaluating follow-up plans.

Thus, he said, the benefits of auditing stunting cases must return to shifting audit risk status, and even strengthening family assistance guidelines at risk of stunting.

"We need mutual attention and commitment to seriously prepare everything. Coordinate with related parties, including the expert team so that the stunting case audit calendar in 2023 can be implemented," said Hasto.