PDI-P Secretary General Reminds That Exclusive Breastfeeding Is Key to Combating Stunting
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Secretary-General of the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board, Hasto Kristiyanto, has stressed that the commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week is not merely a health ceremony, but rather a civilisational movement to prepare the nation’s future.
“For PDI Perjuangan, we return to our grassroots, including today preparing Indonesian babies to have adequate nutrition,” Hasto said in a written statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
He made the remarks while attending the peak event of the International Breastfeeding Day commemoration organised by PDIP at Sekarwangi Field, Cibadak, Sukabumi Regency, on Wednesday (6/8).
“I will give two pantun: Breast milk saves lives, a reflection of a mother’s endless love. Breast milk can never be replaced, it provides complete nutrition, the basis of intelligence for the future,” Hasto said on the occasion.
Before thousands of cadres, especially mothers from Wanoja Perjuangan West Java, Hasto opened his speech with a characteristic pantun that immediately touched on the role of mothers.
“To Sukabumi to eat porridge, greeted by a beautiful and supple dance. For breastfeeding mothers, do not like to work overtime, always give breast milk, children’s intelligence grows fertile,” he said.
According to Hasto, the essence of true politics is building civilisation, not merely a contest for power and capital.
He stressed that Indonesia’s future success depends on the nutrition and intelligence of children, which begins in a mother’s embrace.
He quoted Bung Karno, who said that men and women are like the wings of a bird. “If one is broken, the bird cannot fly. Indonesia will never prosper if its mothers do not also advance,” he asserted.
Hasto emphasised that the main task of all parties is to prepare the nation’s children, and breast milk given with full nutrition is the initial capital for Indonesia’s leadership in the world.
“A superior Indonesia is built from an early age, from the figure of a baby who is given breast milk,” Hasto said.
The issue of stunting was a major focus at the event. Chairman of the PDIP West Java Regional Executive Board, Ono Surono, reported that Sukabumi Regency has a stunting prevalence rate of 20.5 percent, placing it among the top five highest in West Java.
Responding to the data, Hasto offered the simplest and most concrete recipe for the region led by Deputy Regent Andreas Sukmara.
“The simplest recipe for overcoming stunting is, Sir, you must frequently meet with mothers. You must frequently meet with those who have just married, provide education for them,” Ono said.
The health education momentum was further enriched by direct interaction from PDIP Central Executive Board Chair for Health, Prof. (HC) Dr. dr. Ribka Tjiptaning. On stage, she invited dozens of breastfeeding mothers to come forward, providing direct education about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
“Do you know that stunting is the first 1,000 days of life? 270 days in the womb, 730 days outside. Stunting does not necessarily mean short, but the IQ, Sir. If the IQ is below average, it is still stunting,” Ribka explained.
On the occasion, Ribka refuted the myth that breastfeeding can cause sagging breasts. She also emphasised that mothers should not discard colostrum (the first yellowish breast milk) because it is rich in antibodies and immunity.