BKKBN Stresses Importance of Precision Data in Reducing Stunting

Secretary of the Ministry of Population and Family Development/Principal Secretary of BKKBN Budi Setiyono has emphasised the importance of implementing a precision data approach, by name and by address, as a primary instrument to support the effectiveness of interventions. “This approach enables the government to more accurately identify individuals, families, and regions that require priority attention, so that programmes implemented can reach the target groups that truly need them,” Budi said during the Coordination Meeting for Accelerating Stunting Reduction held by the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN on Thursday (11/6). Integrated data also allows the government to obtain a more comprehensive picture of community conditions, so that resulting policies can be more responsive to real needs on the ground. Budi stressed that strengthening the data system must be carried out continuously through improving the quality of data collection, validation, periodic updating, and data integration across ministries and agencies. The availability of quality data is an important prerequisite for the realisation of evidence-based policy capable of having a real impact on accelerating stunting reduction. “In this regard, the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN has so far built a database of families at risk of stunting (KRS) down to the village/sub-district level, which can be used as a basis for intervention by cross-ministerial/institutional and regional government actors,” he added. Budi also conveyed that strong coordination is not only necessary at the central level, but must also be realised down to the regional level. “Regional governments have a very important role as the spearhead of programme implementation because they deal directly with the community and understand the conditions and needs of their respective areas.” Therefore, policy support, technical assistance, and capacity building for regional governments need to be continuously enhanced to ensure the success of programme implementation.