Depok Health Office educates posyandu cadres and PAUD teachers to prevent stunting
The Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Working Team of the Depok City Health Office has provided education to posyandu cadres, Family Welfare and Empowerment (PKK) members, and early childhood education (PAUD) teachers to prevent stunting through infant and child feeding practices.
“We are providing education through an Orientation on Stunting Prevention via Growth and Development Monitoring and Infant and Child Feeding (PMBA) for cross-sector participants,” said Head of the Public Health Division of the Depok City Health Office, Frovira Brilyandini, in Depok on Saturday.
She said the activity was carried out to improve participants’ knowledge and skills in monitoring the growth and development of children under five as well as PMBA in their respective working areas and environments.
“Participants were given education and equipped with the use of standardised anthropometric tools as well as the Maternal and Child Health (KIA) Book as a PMBA guide and a recording and reporting tool,” she said.
Overall, the activity involved 63 PAUD teachers, 63 posyandu cadres, and 14 PKK cadres spread across 63 urban villages and 11 sub-districts throughout Depok City.
Frovira explained that the activity is crucial given the strategic role of participants as the front line in interacting with children and parents.
This role is carried out through monthly weighing and anthropometric measurements at posyandu, family nutrition counselling by PKK cadres, and growth and development stimulation at PAUD units.
She said posyandu cadres, PKK cadres, and PAUD teachers are strategic partners of community health centres who interact directly and regularly with children under five, pre-school age children, as well as parents and caregivers.
“The hope is that the role of all parties can have an impact on the coverage of growth and development monitoring of children under five in Depok City, so as to realise Depok City towards zero new stunting,” she said.