Pariaman forms sanitation village to break stunting chain
The Pariaman City Government in West Sumatra has formed a Sanitation Village in Koto Marapak, East Pariaman District, as part of efforts to strengthen clean and healthy living behaviours while breaking the chain of stunting in the area.
“Building public health cannot be done by the government alone; cooperation and participation from all elements of society are needed,” said Pariaman Mayor Yota Balad in Pariaman on Saturday.
He said collaboration and participation from all elements, including the Pariaman City Government, the Indonesian Environmental Health Experts Association (HAKLI) of Pariaman City, the Koto Marapak Village Government, students, professional organisations, community leaders, and the Regional House of Representatives, are needed to maintain sanitation and a clean environment in the area.
This is because efforts to maintain sanitation and the environment are also part of implementing good life values, as public health is linked to the condition of the living environment, he said.
The Mayor said this condition is also closely related to the government’s efforts to reduce stunting rates in Pariaman.
He noted that the stunting rate in Pariaman has continued to decline from 20.3 percent in 2021 to 18.4 percent in 2022, then 17.7 percent in 2023 and 15.7 percent in 2024.
“This decline demonstrates the effectiveness of cross-sector interventions and the strong commitment of the Pariaman City Government in accelerating stunting reduction through various specific and sensitive nutrition intervention programmes, cross-sector support, and active community participation,” he said.
Acting Head of the Pariaman City Health Office Rudy Repenaldi Rilis said the degree of public health is influenced by the condition of the living environment.
“Clean water, sanitation, waste management, home and environmental cleanliness, mosquito nest eradication, and clean and healthy living behaviours are inseparable parts of health development,” he said.
He said that through the Sanitation Village launched on Friday, the local government wants the community not only to understand the importance of a healthy environment but also to be able to apply it consistently in daily life.
Separately, Chairman of HAKLI Pariaman City Syaiful Indra said the programme carried out by his organisation in the village is part of the continuity of coaching and improving public health status, focusing on achieving the maximum five pillars of Community-Based Total Sanitation.
He added that in the activities carried out in the village, his organisation has the slogan “AYOK GAS” or Ayo Kampanyekan Gerakan Masyarakat Hidup Sehat, while the campaign theme is ‘Putus Rantai Stunting Dengan Sanitasi’.