President Jokowi Issues New Directives on Stunting Reduction

Infographic on stunting. Photo by: Ministry of Health

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has issued new directives to speed up stunting reduction.

“The data shows that there is an improvement in the prevalence of stunting from 37% in 2013 to 27.6% in 2019. This is relatively good, but I don’t think it’s enough. We have to lower it even faster and our target is that in 2024 we must be able to decrease (the prevalence) to 14%,” the President said during a Limited Cabinet Meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/5).

On that occasion, the President delivered the following directives:

First, the President ordered well-targeted measures to reduce stunting in 10 provinces that have the highest prevalence, including East Nusa Tenggara Province, West Sulawesi Province, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Gorontalo Province, Aceh Province, Central Kalimantan Province, South Kalimantan Province, West Kalimantan Province, Southeast Sulawesi Province and Central Sulawesi Province.

“I order the Governors, Regents, Mayors, and Village Heads, especially in the 10 provinces, to use their best efforts to reduce stunting,” the President said.

Second, access to health services for pregnant women and toddlers at community health center (Puskesmas) and integrated health services post (Posyandu) must continue during the pandemic, including the provision of additional food for pregnant women and also the provision of supplements and Vitamin A for breastfeeding mothers and  complementary food for infants.

Third, health promotion, education, and dissemination for pregnant women as well as their families must be intensified to broaden their horizons on stunting prevention. The President also ordered women’s organization, religious leaders, community leaders and volunteers to support the stunting reduction.

Fourth, measures to reduce stunting should be synchronized with social assistance programs, especially the Family Hope Program (PKH), the Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), and also basic infrastructure for low-income families (TGH/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana