Minister: Stunting prevention must be through an integrated approach
Lebak (ANTARA) - The Minister for Population and Family Development/Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), Wihaji, stated that addressing stunting or child dwarfism must be done through an integrated approach that directly reaches target families.
“We must not handle stunting in a partial manner,” said Wihaji while handing over aid to two Stunting Risk Families (KRS) in Leuwidamar Subdistrict, Lebak Regency, Banten, on Thursday.
The current government is tangible proof that the state is present even in the remotest areas of Lebak Regency for stunting prevention.
Therefore, the provision of aid to the two KRS is not merely symbolic but part of ongoing efforts to ensure Indonesian children grow up healthy, intelligent, and of high quality.
To accelerate the reduction in stunting cases, he said, cross-sectoral collaboration is needed, particularly through nutrition interventions, family education, and strengthening basic health services.
“The Stunting Risk Family Programme must be monitored together with strong synergy to accelerate the decline in stunting rates,” he stated.
Banten Deputy Governor Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah said his side conveyed appreciation for the central government’s attention to communities in the remote areas of Lebak Regency.
“We fully support BKKBN’s strategic steps. This becomes positive energy for the region to continue strengthening services to the community, especially in fulfilling family nutrition and health,” said the Banten Deputy Governor.
Lebak Deputy Regent Amir Hamzah described the aid handover event to the two KRS as an important momentum to increase public awareness of the importance of early stunting prevention.
“We synergise between the central, provincial, and local governments for stunting handling, and also encourage programmes that directly touch the community so that family quality of life improves,” he said.
Meanwhile, Acting Head of BKKBN Banten Representation Yuda Ganda Putra explained that the aid to KRS is part of specific interventions carried out in a measured and sustainable manner.
“We ensure that every recipient family receives intensive assistance, from fulfilling nutrition to education on proper parenting patterns. This is a concrete step in preventing stunting from the upstream,” he said.
The aid distribution activity was also combined with monitoring priority programmes and the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) for breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and toddlers (3B) in the remote areas of Lebak Regency, while being linked to simultaneous family planning services in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI).