House Commission IX Calls on All Parties to Support 'Genting' Stunting Prevention Programme
Manado (ANTARA) - Chairman of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR-RI), Felly E. Runtuwene, has invited all parties to take part in the ‘Gerakan Orang Tua Asuh Cegah Stunting’ (Genting) programme, or the Foster Parents Movement to Prevent Stunting.
“I invite regional governments, the business community, state-owned enterprises (BUMN) and regionally-owned enterprises (BUMD), professional organisations, universities, religious and community organisations, communities, and all the people of North Sulawesi to take part,” said Felly in Manado at the Kick Off of North Sulawesi Province’s Genting Week on Monday.
According to Felly, one does not need to wait until they have abundant wealth to start sharing, because what may seem simple to us can mean a great deal to a family in need.
“As a working partner of the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN, Commission IX of the DPR-RI gives its full support to the Genting programme,” Felly affirmed.
Through its budgetary function, Commission IX of the DPR-RI is committed to overseeing the adequacy of the budget to support family development efforts and the acceleration of stunting reduction.
In addition, through its oversight function, Commission IX will also ensure that the implementation of Genting does not stop at ceremonial events and does not only operate in easily accessible areas.
Felly also added that Commission IX does not want the success of Genting to be measured solely by the number of foster parents or the amount of assistance provided.
The most important measure is how many families are genuinely helped and how many children can be protected from the risk of stunting.
“From North Sulawesi today, let us show that the spirit of gotong royong of the Indonesian nation is still alive and strong. Let no Indonesian child lose the opportunity to grow up healthy and achieve their future simply because their family is facing hardship,” he added.
“Because when we save a child from stunting today, we are not just helping one family. We are safeguarding the quality of the generation and the future of Indonesia,” Felly stated.
The stunting prevalence rate in the province, which has a population of more than 2.7 million, has fallen from 21.3 percent to 20.8 percent.
The Kick Off of the Genting Programme in North Sulawesi was also attended by the Head of the BKKBN Representative Office for North Sulawesi Province, Dr. Jeanny Yola Winokan and her staff, the Head of the Regional Population and Civil Registration and Family Planning Office of North Sulawesi Province, Christodharma Sondakh, as well as partners, community organisations, cadres, family companions and other invited guests.