Involve All Parties to Overcome Stunting

Overcoming stunting is not as easy as setting a target on paper. Even though national prevalence has declined, many groups need to be alert.

KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy (left), holding a stunted child while checking the handling of the poverty alleviation program in Pucangsongo Village, Pakis District, Malang Regency, East Java, Sunday (29/1/2023.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines stunting as growth and development disorders in infants to toddlers due to chronic malnutrition and infections, characterized by below-standard height.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has issued Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021 concerning the Acceleration of Reducing Stunting. The short-term target of the Presidential Regulation is to reduce the prevalence of stunting by 3 percent per year so that it declines to 14 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, the long-term target is to free children under five from stunting in 2030.

Also read:

> Specific Interventions Needed to Address Stunting

> Strengthen Collaboration to Overcome Stunting

According to the Indonesian Toddler Nutrition Status Survey, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia amounted to 27.6 percent in 2019. This prevalence dropped to 24.4 percent in 2021 and to 21.6 percent in 2022. However, it turns out that there are many new cases of stunting at the age of 12- 23 months.

The main story of this daily (Kompas, 28/1/2023) stated that the number of children aged 0-11 months suffering from stunting in 2021 amounted to 565,479 children. The number was expected to remain the same when they got older and entered the age group of 12-23 months. Apparently the number rose to 978,930 children. It meant by age 12-23 months there were many new stunting cases.

Stunting is not just a health case. It includes issues related to education, social, economics, geography, even local natural resources. The more remote and poorer the region, the easier it is to find stunting cases. On the other hand, gender inequality, child marriage and a lack of understanding of nutrition are also factors that trigger stunting. Not to mention families who do not want their children to be declared as suffering from stunting because they are not willing to have their children examined.

Actually, since stunting has become a national program, the government has mobilized Family Welfare Movement (PKK) cadres, community-health centers and pediatricians. However, experience in the field showed that not all pediatricians understood the procedure. Likewise, the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) apparently does not cover a stunting treatment, not to mention the policy of giving biscuits, whose taste and texture children do not like, so that the biscuits pile up and expire.

Also read:

> ”Quo Vadis” in Accelerated Stunting-Reduction Movement

> Stunting in Villages

Therefore, tackling stunting cases cannot be managed alone by the government, especially since 2023 and 2024 will be political years, in which it may ignore the management of stunting. Without acceleration efforts, it is estimated that the prevalence of stunting will only decrease to 21 percent in 2024.

The government must also organize an intensive and extensive stunting-management program that reaches all parts of Indonesia. In this case, the government can invite the parties, including the private sector.

In areas with high service marks, the local government can invite existing companies to help change behavior, as well as improve communication with the community and monitoring.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.