Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Lok Batung Village in Paringin Sub-district, Balangan District, South Kalimantan, now becomes a model for a stunting-free village.
Head of Lok Batung Village Akhmad Irfani said in the last two year there is no stunted child found in the village.
"Alhamdulillah of the total 20 toddlers there is no one stunted in Lok Batung Village," said Irfani in Paringin, Friday.
However, Irfani said, the integrated health center (posyandu) officers continue to actively monitor infants or toddlers health condition.
One of posyandu cadres in Lok Batung, Rubiati, believes that stunting prevention can be realized if mothers are aware of having their children to be checked regularly to health facilities.
"Through WhatsApp group, we actively remind posyandu members to do routine check including child health consultations," said Rubiati.
She admitted that mothers in Lok Batung really support the stunting prevention program, as proven every month they visit posyandu.
The toddlers underwent health checks, such as weighing and receiving additional food in the form of milk and porridge according to baby's age, she said.
In addition to providing local food, Rubiati and other cadres also educate residents about health to expedite the process of changing behavior of mothers and families when providing appropiriate food according to age.
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Acting Head of Balangan Health Office Ahmad Sauko acknowledged that village officials and the entire Lok Batung community, including posyandu cadres and midwives, play an important role in reducing stunting rates.
"By mid 2024, we are targeting the number of toddlers to be weighed in Balangan at around 10,000 and the success of zero stunting in Lok Batung could be a motivation for other villages," said Sauko.
Weighing operations are carried out by midwives and community health centers (puskesmas) to determine the growth conditions of babies in Balangan.
Previously, the results of the electronic application for Community-Based Nutrition Recording and Reporting (EPPGBM) in February and June 2024 showed that 11 villages in Balangan were considered to have the potential to be free of stunting.
These villages include Lok Batung, Murung Ilung, Lamida Bawah, Tarangan, Suryatama, Puyun, Gunung Riut, Aniungan, Kasai, Tariwin and Lampihong Kanan.
Then the results of verification and validation in early July 2024, Lok Batung in Paringin Sub-district has a free-stunting status and in three villages each only one stunted child were found, they were Aniungan, Murung Ilung, and Tariwin Village.
Related news: Balangan, Adaro declare stunting free village
