City Intensively Reduces Stunting, Targets No New Cases

Stunting is one of the Jakarta Provincial Government's priorities to overcome. It is also in line with the stunting prevalence target set by the President, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, to reduce the stunting rate to 14 percent by 2024.

We give interventions for toddlers with nutritional problems

Hence, The Jakarta Government is making various intensive efforts to intervene as early as possible for children who are suspected of being stunted.

Jakarta Health Agency (Dinkes) is carrying out Active Case Finding by actively finding cases of children with nutritional problems including stunting throughout 2023. It is done to measure the nutritional status of toddlers through door-to-door system.

Jakarta Beraksi Program Reaches 292 Toddlers

Aside that, Posyandu activities are conducted which provide various facilities to facilitate people to get health services, one of which is checking nutritional status and receiving education.

Jakarta Dinkes Head, Ani Ruspitawati said that based on existing data up to November 2023, it was recorded that 19.64 percent of toddlers had graduated from stunting after intervention.

"We give interventions for toddlers with nutritional problems, starting from not gaining weight according to standards (weight faltering), underweight, malnutrition, malnutrition, to stunting. If found, action must be taken immediately," she explained, Thursday (1/25).

He explained that specific interventions were provided through the provision of additional food (PMT) for toddlers under five years with nutritional problems by providing foods rich in animal protein, such as eggs and milk.

Based on research, eggs and milk contain high levels of amino acids which are needed for children's growth. Additional food menus are prepared according to standards set by the Ministry of Health.

She went on to say that the intervention efforts were conducted through synergy with various parties, including the central government, army/police, private sector, the world of education, media, and community in the Jakarta Beraksi movement. This movement accommodates all parties to move together to accelerate stunting eradication.

"This active role is conducted in various forms, including financing to complement the budget for accelerating stunting reduction which comes from the City Budget (APBD)," she explained.

Jakarta Beraksi is present at the sub-district level in the form of nutrition posts where there are various activities such as providing PMT; education related to growth and development, toddlers with nutritional problems, and toddler eating patterns; until an evaluation is carried out from related parties, including the Puskesmas with full support from Posyandu and PKK cadres.

"We keep providing the best service to the community," she stated.