Ministry of Health Initiates Fatherhood Movement to Strengthen Quality of Child's First 1,000 Days
The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has announced the initiation of the Fatherhood Movement as a primary support system for the first 1,000 days of life (HPK), recognising the vital role fathers play in shaping physical quality and intelligence from the womb.
Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono stated in Jakarta on Sunday that, in an effort to suppress stunting rates and lower maternal and infant mortality in Indonesia, the government has established four key interventions within the 1,000 HPK Programme: pre-pregnancy; pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn period; the toddler period; and the strengthening of health services.
However, he noted that this programme cannot succeed without solid family support. He emphasised the importance of the Fatherhood Movement as a cornerstone of the 1,000 HPK initiative.
“The greatest brain development occurs between the ages of 0 and 2 years. Therefore, this investment in the early years is crucial. We are also initiating the Fatherhood Movement so that fathers are actively involved in meeting children’s health needs. If we previously knew the ‘Suami Siaga’ (Alert Husband) concept during childbirth, we will now have ‘Ayah Siaga’ (Alert Father) during the 1,000 HPK period to ensure children grow up healthy,” he said.
According to him, ensuring a child’s health and nutrition is no longer solely the responsibility of mothers.
In line with this, the Deputy Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Wamen PPPA), Veronica Tan, emphasised that the government’s cross-sector collaboration must be perfectly aligned with implementation at the household level.
“The quality of education and health depends heavily on the family foundation. Sometimes parents are busy, and children are busy as well. Therefore, the most important thing is to build quality time between father, mother, and child. We must return to the habit of eating home-cooked meals rather than instant food as a strong foundation for a healthy life,” said Veronica.