Deputy Minister Veronica: Stunting prevention must begin during pregnancy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan has said that stunting prevention in children must begin during pregnancy through maternal health and nutritional fulfilment.

“When we talk about stunting, we must start with the mother. When a woman is pregnant, what we prepare is not only the mother’s health, but also the child’s future. That is why mothers must receive support so that she and her baby are healthy,” said Deputy Minister Veronica Tan at the “Merdeka Stunting” event in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to her, responsibility for maternal health cannot be borne by women alone, but must also involve fathers as husbands and close family members.

“The responsibility of maintaining maternal and child health cannot be placed on women alone. Fathers and families need to be involved from pregnancy check-ups, nutritional fulfilment, birth preparation, through to childcare,” said Veronica Tan.

The government has targeted stunting prevalence to fall to 14.2 per cent by 2029.

“Pregnancy is indeed experienced by women, but maternal and child health is a shared responsibility. Attention to pregnant women is an important step to support child growth and development and prepare a healthy Indonesian generation. This is where the role and presence of fathers is very important,” said Veronica Tan.

For family nutritional fulfilment, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection is promoting the use of local food through the Women’s Local Food Garden programme to optimise local food potential while opening economic opportunities.

“Women can make use of what is in their environment. There are food crops, medicinal plants, spices, coffee, nutmeg, bamboo, and various other commodities. This potential can support family food security while becoming a source of income,” said Veronica Tan.