Jakarta, The PRAKARSA - Indonesia's commitment to efforts to reduce stunting has been regulated in Presidential Decree Number 72 of 2021 concerning the Acceleration of Reducing Stunting. 2023 is the second year of implementation of the Presidential Decree, various progress in reducing stunting has been demonstrated, with the stunting prevalence rate falling 9,2% in the last 4 years, from 30,2% in 2018 to 21,6% in 2022.
However, to achieve the target of 14% by 2024, the prevalence of stunting must be reduced by 7,6% in 2 years or 3,8% annually. This is a challenge in itself in accelerating the reduction of stunting in the next 2 years.
Previously, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin as Head of the Team for the Acceleration of Reducing Stunting (TP2S) reminded, "The reduction in stunting prevalence that has occurred so far must of course be appreciated as a result of our work so far. However, it is important to remember that the Government has a target to reduce the prevalence of stunting to 14 percent by 2024. That means, we must reduce the prevalence of stunting by 7,6 percent in the remaining time. Of course this is a challenge for all of us to achieve. We must be able to look for strategic interventions that can encourage stunting reduction faster than previously achieved achievements. "So that we can ensure that we can achieve the 2024 target," he said at the Ministerial Limited Meeting to Accelerate Stunting Reduction in the First Quarter of 2023, on Thursday (25/5).
According to the Executive Director of The PRAKARSA, Ah Maftuchan, in efforts to reduce stunting in Indonesia, a multidimensional approach is needed and involves various parties (multi-stakeholders) so that the stunting reduction targets that have been set can be achieved.
Maftuchan conveyed this when he was one of the speakers at the Technical Coordination Meeting (Rakortek) for the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction which was held by the Vice President's Secretariat Working Unit (Setwapres) which is under the Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, in Jakarta on Thursday (5/10).
In front of the meeting participants, Maftuchan also highlighted the lack of coordination, synchronization and integration of programs and activities in efforts to reduce stunting that have been carried out by the government so far, "apart from that, so far reducing stunting is still the responsibility of the government, so there is a need to increase participation from non-actors -government and business that are responsible for environmental and social issues," he said.
Furthermore, Maftuchan said that the stunting reduction agenda needs to be pushed to become an agenda for all components of the nation, by practicing nutritional awareness at the family and community level. Apart from that, behavior change campaigns and increasing leadership commitment and vision in handling stunting also need to be considered.
"The private sector needs to be encouraged to become an implementing actor in reducing stunting and conducting business in line with the implementation of the SDGs, including the stunting reduction agenda. "Support is also needed from philanthropists and corporations to support stunting reduction programs that are already running in society, whether carried out by the government or civil society organizations," explained Maftuchan.
This activity was attended by thousands of participants consisting of the central government representing various ministries and institutions, Regional Government Organizations (OPD) from 14 Provinces and hundreds of Regencies/Cities in Indonesia, as well as Development Partner Non-Governmental Institutions, NGOs, the private sector and universities.
From this activity, it is hoped that participants from both central and regional governments will be able to formulate a Follow-up Plan for 2023 – 2024 in isSpecific interventions, sensitive interventions, and governance in handling and reducing stunting rates.
