Supplementary food intervention right on target to prevent stunting: Ministry

Paringin, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) stated that Supplementary Food (PMT) intervention program must be right on target to optimize stunting prevention.

"If a toddler is found leading to stunting intervene with the right on target additional food," said Head of Stunting Reduction Acceleration Team (TPPS) of the Health Ministry's Directorate of Nutrition, Mothers and Child Health Dakhlan Choerone when confirmed in Paringin, Balangan District, South Kalimantan, Tuesday.

Dakhlan especially appreciated the Balangan Fighting Against Stunting (Balanting) program, which is implemented by Balangan District Government in collaboration with private sector through intervention and assistance for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and toddlers.

He considered that intervention program was very effective in suppressing stunting rate in Balangan or other regions.

Dakhlan said that six months to two years toddlers have a high potential for stunting in both regionally and nationally.

Regarding a joint declaration of stunting-free village by the Balangan government together with all policy makers including private sector, he said, it was an intervention step to prevent cases of stunting by targeting pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and toddlers to be more optimal.

The reason was that the number of stunted toddlers was increasing in the district in 2023, thus it intensified intervention and assistance program so that there will be no additional cases of pregnant women giving birth to stunted babies.

"In addition to innovation that is adapted to the regional conditions, it is necessary to strengthen posyandu cadres so that the program is more effective," he said.

Dakhlan also mentioned the joint declaration as an appreciation to the achievement and a concrete evidence of a joint commitment to combat stunting and improving children's health in Balangan.

The prevalence of stunting in Balangan remains at 15 percent based on survey on nutritional status of cases of failing to thrive.

Balangan Regent Abdul Hadi said that Lok Batung as a Stunting Free Village becomes a model for other villages in fighting against stunting.

Acting Head of Balangan Health Office Ahmad Sauki said that his side has budgeted a special allocation of IDR1 billion for the stunting handling program in 2024.

"We are grateful for the hard work of all parties, especially private companies that have beeen involved in handling stunting in Balangan District," he said.

Sauki emphasized that the Balangan District Government is serious and focus in handling stunting to welcome Golden Indonesia so that a healthy generation is built.

"It is obsolutely impossible for us to welcome the Golden Indonesia if our generation's growth and development is disrupted," he said.