Challenges in Dealing with Stunting in NTT
Vinsen encouraged NTT Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat to evaluate the handling of stunting in the province. At present, the focus is still on providing extra food.
President Joko Widodo inspects the prevention of tengkes in South Central Timor Regency, Thursday (24/3/2022).
East Nusa Tenggara is the province with the highest prevalence of stunting in Indonesia. Ironically, many organizations in the province do not know what stunting is.
KUPANG, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's warning during his visit to South Central Timor regency on Thursday (24/3) dealt a big blow to the problem of stunting in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Hundreds of billions of rupiah have been spent in dealing with the stunting problem, but the results have not been optimal.
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SDGs and Economic Transformation
Stunting remains a big problem in South Central Timor, NTT. Based on the 2021 Indonesian Nutritional Status Study, the prevalence of stunting in the regency amounted to 48.3 percent or the highest in the 246 regencies/cities in 12 provinces that have received priority treatment from the government. The figure is double the 20 percent standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
NTT has the highest prevalence of stunting nationally. Of the 22 regencies /cities in NTT, 15 areas are in the red zone (a prevalence rate of above 30 percent) and seven areas are in the yellow zone (20-30 percent). No regencies /cities in NTT are included in the green zone (10-20 percent), let alone the blue zone (below 10 percent).
The director of the Pijar Timur Indonesia Foundation, Vinsen Kia Beda, said on Friday (25/3/2022) that Jokowi’s warning during his visit was a strong wake-up call for the handling of stunting in South Central Timor regency in particular and NTT in general.
"The question is: what has the stunting prevention and handling team in NTT done so far? In fact, more than Rp 100 billion has been disbursed," said Vinsen. Since 2019, the budget for treating stunting in NTT has amounted to about Rp 165 billion.
Stunting is caused by malnutrition, beginning in pregnancy, and results in impaired intelligence in children.
South Central Timor regency has the highest prevalence of stunting in the country. As many as 48 out of 100 children under five in the regency suffer from stunting (Kompas.id, 24/3/2022). Stunting is caused by malnutrition, beginning in pregnancy, and results in impaired intelligence in children.
Program evaluation
Vinsen encouraged NTT Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat to evaluate the handling of stunting in the province. At present, the focus is still on providing extra food. A preventive program, such as counseling for prospective brides or early detection of pregnant women, is still not optimal.
The midwife of the Warsaw Health Center, Filnitris Arwiwin Ule (standing, left), campaigns for the prevention of tengkes, Tuesday (11/24/2020), in Mbeliling District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
The chairperson of the Working Group for the Acceleration of Handling and Prevention of Stunting in NTT province, Sarah Lery Mboeik, said that her organization had partly designed various work programs
for the treatment of stunting, which have also been integrated by a number of agencies according to their duties and functions.
"However, many regional apparatus organizations [OPD] have not worked optimally. There are OPDs who don't understand what stunting is," said Sarah, adding that the handling of stunting was not only the responsibility of the government, but also of community, customary and religious leaders.
That way, the target of reducing the stunting prevalence rate in NTT to 10 percent in 2024 can be achieved.
According to Sarah, public awareness is needed to play an active role in dealing with the stunting problem. That way, the target of reducing the stunting prevalence rate in NTT to 10 percent in 2024 can be achieved.
Regarding the spending of the government’s funds in handling the stunting problem, Sarah said that her organization did not directly manage it. The budget is managed by each OPD according to their respective duties and functions. For example, the budget for the provision of clean water is the responsibility of the public works department, while the counselling of pregnant women is the domain of the health department.
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Previously, during his visit to Kesetnana village, South Mollo sub-district, South Central Timor, Jokowi warned that human resources greatly determines the progress of a country. Without the concerted effort of all elements of the government and society, the target set in reducing the number of stunting victims would be difficult to achieve, he said.
Zack Petersen from the 1000 Days Fund discussed preventing tengkes, Monday (11/23/2020), on Papagarang Island, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
"I think that if the intervention is integrated, such as with the handling of the water problem in NTT - no easy matter - and if it is also carried out in an integrated way, it will help achieve the 14 percent target," said the President. The 14 percent figure is the national prevalence target to achieve by 2024 (Kompas, 25/3/2022). (FRN)
(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)
