Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inspection in Residents’ Houses at Kasetnana Village South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province March 24, 2022

Today, I am here in East Nusa Tenggara province, in South Central Timor regency to inspect the Stunting Reduction Program.

I noticed that the problem of stunting is not only about nutrition, but for the soon-to-be bride and groom, they all must be prepared [to prevent stunting]. It is our hope that couples before marriage and couples [after marriage] before pregnancy have to understand what to do considering that many couples are not yet well informed.

Even they have a lot of money but if they do not know what they to do or prepare, it will be a problem. Thus, we have to provide assistance for couples [before marriage] so that after marriage they will know what they should do concerning child nutrition.

Next, [the Government] will carry out intervention on child nutrition for children who are stunted so that the target of 14 percent set will be achieved by 2024. It is not merely intervention on child nutrition we have to carry out. Based on what I noticed (during inspection of residents’ houses) that those who are stunted live in houses that are not habitable. This is what we will also intervene in.

It is necessary to have an integrated intervention including water issue. In East Nusa Tenggara, water issue is no easy task. It must be done in an integrated way so that the target of 14 percent can be achieved. Without a joint, integrated collaboration among regional / municipal governments, provincial governments, the Central Government, and all communities, I think that it is hard to reach the target we have set.

That concludes my speech.

I thank you. (AP/HD/EP)