JAKARTA - Director General of Public Health (Dirjen Kesmas) of the Indonesian Ministry of Health Maria Endang Rusmiwi said toddlers exposed to cigarette smoke had a 5.5 percent chance of experiencing tengkes or stunting.
"Research by the University of Indonesia's Center for Social Security Studies in 2018, found that toddlers living with smokers' parents grew by more than 1.5 kilograms from children growing up without smokers' parents," said Maria Endang Sumiwi at the 2023 World Tobacco Without Day Press Conference at the Indonesian Ministry of Health Building, Jakarta, Antara, Monday, May 29.
Currently in Indonesia, there are 70.2 million adults who smoke. A total of 65.5 percent of them were carried out by men.
"That means, there are a third of toddlers in Indonesia who have the potential to be exposed to cigarettes, then weight becomes less than those who are not exposed to daily cigarettes in their families," he said.
Director General Endang invites men, especially fathers, to contribute to the stunting reduction program by diverting cigarette spending to protein needs for child growth.
According to Endang, cigarette spending in households is in second-largest or equivalently three times higher than the cost of children's protein needs.
Based on Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data, the money used in households for cigarette shopping ranges from an average of IDR 382 thousand per month.
He suggested that the household's financial structure be evaluated based on a priority scale so that cigarette spending is diverted to buy the animal protein that children need to develop optimally.
"This is our focus, because the stunting rate in Indonesia is still relatively high according to the WHO category, a maximum of 20 percent of the population. Indonesia is still 21 percent, if 30 percent of toddlers have the potential to be exposed to cigarettes in households, this is one of the obstacles in reducing stunting," he said.
Endang said the effort was also in line with the theme of the commemoration of World No Tobacco Day 2023 which carried "We Need Food, Not Cigarettes".
"The commemoration of No Tobacco Day is also an opportunity for fathers to play a role in reducing the national stunting rate," said Endang added.
"Currently there are 65.5 percent of men smoking can contribute to preventing stunting, using the money to buy eggs, chicken meat, and others," he said.
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