Tanah Laut's stunting falls to 9.5 percent

Pelaihari, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Regent HM Sukamta said that although the stunting rate in Tanah Laut fell, the district government keeps its efforts to continue to reduce it through various programs to improve family nutrition.

"Children are declared malnourished if their height for age is more than two deviations below the WHO child growth standard," said the Regent after attending virtually the commemoration of the 28th National Family Day (Harganas) in Pelaihari, Tueaday (June 29, 2021).

In addition, he explained, stunting according to WHO is a growth disorder experienced by children due to poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.

According to him, the stunting rate in Tanah Laut itself has decreased significantly from 22.5 percent last year to 9.5 percent.

"We have to lower the number again through programs that will be run by the Office of Population Control, Family Planning, and Women's Empowerment and Child Protection(DP2KBP3A)," said Sukamta.

The effort to reduce the rate, he said, has been carried out by DP2KBP3A as an additional task and he asked the Village Family Planning Guiding Assistant (PPKBD) to keep working to lower the rate of stunting in Tanah Laut.

"Let's unite these efforts by means of consolidation," said the Regent.

The Harganas virtual commemoration in Tanah Laut was attended by the Assistant for General Administration M Safarin, acting Head of DP2KBP3A Zainal Abidin, and his ranks.

The 2021 Harganas commemoration with the theme Cool Family Prevent Stunting was nationally opened by Vice President KH Ma'ruf Amin.