Suppressing Stunting Rates, Koto Baru Family Planning Village Optimises DASHAT Programme
The Padang City Government continues to strengthen its commitment to reducing stunting rates through concrete actions at the sub-district level. The Koto Baru Nan XX KB Village in Lubuk Begalung District held a Dapur Sehat Atasi Stunting (DASHAT) activity at its secretariat on Wednesday (1/4/2026).
Lubuk Begalung District Family Planning Extension Coordinator, Rahman, explained that the event invited 15 families with infants, toddlers, and young children.
“The main goal is to equip mothers to optimise nutritious local foods. We aim to prevent stunting, which is a growth disorder in children, through proper eating patterns,” said Rahman.
Nutritionist from the Padang City Health Department, Silvi, attended as a speaker and delivered interactive material. She emphasised that DASHAT is a form of community empowerment to ensure children receive balanced nutrition.
Key points covered included hygiene principles, the obligation to wash hands before preparing food, and separating containers for raw ingredients from cooked food. Silvi also explained feeding rules, including regular meal schedules with a maximum duration of 30 minutes, and maintaining the child’s mood to avoid reluctance to eat.
Additionally, chewing stimulation was a focus of the education. Silvi explained the importance of gradually training children on food textures, including providing safe media such as clean chicken thigh bones or mango seeds for biting.
“If chewing ability is trained, the child’s portion will naturally increase,” Silvi clarified.
The DASHAT activity received a positive response from local residents. Vinesha Rahma Putri from Beringin Sakti expressed appreciation for the programme.
“Through DASHAT, we have a better understanding of the function of KB Villages or Quality Family Villages. This education is very beneficial for us mothers,” she stated.
Sofia Marye echoed similar sentiments. She thanked the Padang City Department of Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control, and Family Planning (DP3AP2KB) for organising the event.
“With this knowledge, we hope our children’s health will be better maintained in the future,” she concluded.