Learning Nutrition from Pregnancy: Dompet Dhuafa's Concrete Step to Prevent Stunting

JAKARTA – The laughter of children filled the hall of the Rorotan low-cost apartment block in North Jakarta, whilst mothers attended nutrition counselling sessions and a healthy cooking competition. The warm atmosphere provided a vivid portrait of efforts to prevent stunting starting from the family, even from pregnancy onwards. Through the 11th anniversary celebrations of the Rorotan Health Post (Gerai Sehat Rorotan, GSR), PTTEP Indonesia together with Dompet Dhuafa invited the community to build a stunting-free generation through health education, nutritional fulfilment, and healthy lifestyle changes from an early age.

Carrying the theme “A Great Generation Without Stunting, Yes We Can”, various activities were held throughout the year, ranging from children’s health education and nutrition counselling for pregnant women, to a culminating celebration involving the residents of the Rorotan apartment block.

Nutritionist Melliana Eka said stunting prevention must begin long before a child is born. According to her, a mother’s health condition and nutritional status before and during pregnancy greatly determine the quality of a child’s growth and development. Unfortunately, many pregnant women still rely on carbohydrate-based foods as their main diet, leaving protein, vitamin, and mineral needs unmet in a balanced way.

“That is why education on balanced nutrition is an important provision, so that mothers understand that meeting nutritional needs during pregnancy is an investment in the birth of a generation that is healthy, intelligent, and productive,” said Melliana on Wednesday (22 July 2026).

Within the hall, the enthusiasm for learning was evident on the face of Aulia Safitri (26), a pregnant woman at 32 weeks who joined the nutrition education and prenatal exercise class at the Rorotan Health Post hall.

For her, the activity was not merely a health class, but a space to prepare herself for motherhood.

“I gained a lot of new knowledge about the importance of meeting nutritional needs during pregnancy. I hope this knowledge can help me maintain my health and my baby’s, so that the delivery process goes smoothly later,” said Aulia.

In addition to learning about nutrition, participants also took part in prenatal gymnastics and pilates designed to improve fitness, correct posture, reduce discomfort during pregnancy, and prepare the body physically ahead of childbirth.

Seeing the community’s enthusiasm, PTTEP Indonesia and Dompet Dhuafa announced that the prenatal exercise class would become a routine programme at the Rorotan Health Post, available free of charge to all pregnant women registered as GSR members.