President Jokowi Urges Regional Governments to Reduce Stunting, Extreme Poverty

President Jokowi inaugurated the 2023 National Coordination Meeting of Regional Leaders and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forums across Indonesia at Sentul International Convention Centre in Bogor regency, West Java province, Tuesday (01/17). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Oji)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has urged regional governments to alleviate extreme poverty to 0 percent and reduce stunting prevalence to below 14 percent in 2024.

On extreme poverty, the President stated that in 2022, the rate in the country remained at 2 percent with 14 provinces’ rate surpassing the national rate.

“We already have all the data, meaning we are aware of who the targets are. As for the measures, I suppose I do not have to state them anymore. All regional governments have already known what interventions must be carried out,” he said when opening the 2023 National Coordination Meeting of Regional Leaders and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forums (Forkopimda) at Sentul International Convention Centre in Bogor regency, West Java province, Tuesday (01/17).

Furthermore, the President stressed that it is essential that regional leaders reduce stunting in their respective regions as Indonesia will experience a demographic bonus peak in 2030-2035, so human resource development must continue to be optimized.

“If our human resources are neither bright minded nor productive, it will not bring us any benefit. Instead, it will be a huge burden to the country. For that reason, stunting must be stopped for the development of Indonesia’s human resources,” he said.

The Head of State pointed out that the national stunting prevalence continued to decline from 37 percent in 2014 to 24 percent in 2021 and it has been predicted to be at 21 percent in 2022.

Despite the significant decrease, the President has set a target to push the prevalence to lower than 14 percent in 2024.

“It is not easy, but once again, if we work as hard as we worked to tackle the pandemic, I am sure that it is not hard to do. We have the data,” he said.

The President also urged regional leaders to use technology and application platforms to monitor stunting in their respective regions, adding that several regions has successfully reduced stunting, including Sumedang regency in West Java province that has managed to reduce the prevalence from 32 percent in 2018 to 7 percent in 2022 by using information technology.

“Kampar regency has also succeeded, but it did not utilize application platforms. Instead, foster children are given to the care of big companies in Kampar regency. 100 children, 200 children, 50 children were given to their care and as a result, the prevalence dropped from 27 [percent] to approximately 8 percent. It is a very significant decline,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (DH/LW)