Jokowi Expresses Optimism in Continued Efforts to Prevent Child Stunting in Papua

Sentani, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo, (Jokowi) commonly known as Jokowi, expressed optimism on Tuesday about the ongoing efforts to prevent stunting among children in Indonesia. During his visit to a local integrated health post (posyandu) in Sentani, Papua, the President, accompanied by First Lady Iriana and several ministers including Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, reviewed the stunting prevention measures being implemented in the region.

President Jokowi highlighted that the country’s initiatives to combat stunting began a decade ago and have already shown significant progress. “Initially, the prevalence of stunting was at 37 percent, and now, it has dropped drastically to 21 percent,” he remarked.

Despite the notable decrease, President Jokowi acknowledged that reducing the stunting rate further to the national target of 14 percent has proven challenging. He emphasized the need for collective efforts from all parties, including the community, to achieve this goal. “The target in reducing the stunting rate from 21 percent to 14 percent is not as fast as before because stunting is not only related to food availability but more about nutrition,” he stated.

President Jokowi explained that stunting prevention is closely linked to the provision of nutritious food, proper sanitation facilities, a healthy living environment, and access to clean water. “To prevent stunting, the cooperation of all parties, including members of the community, who need to apply a clean lifestyle, is deemed necessary,” he said.

He stressed the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, which includes consuming nutritious food, maintaining clean sanitation facilities, ensuring a healthy living environment, and securing access to clean water, as essential measures to prevent stunting from an early age. “We know that the stunting rate decline, which was previously significant, is now slower, but we are striving to reach even below 14 percent,” he added.

First Lady Iriana also addressed parents, urging them to increase the intake of nutritious food for their children to prevent stunting.