Gov't: East Java Is Priority for National Stunting Alleviation Effort

TheIndonesia.id - The Indonesian government is including East Java on the list of prioritized provinces in its stunting reduction effort as the province recorded high prevalence.

Chairperson of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) Hasto Wardoyo said East Java is one of the 12 provinces in Indonesia with the highest stunting prevalence in 2021.

“Based on Indonesia Nutrition Report, or SSGI, in 2021, four regencies in East Java are under the red category,” Wardoyo said on Wednesday, March 3, as reported by Antara. Red category means that stunting prevalence in a region is above 30 percent, and the four regencies are Bangkalan, Pamekasan, Bondowoso, and Lumajang.

Wardoyo also revealed that 18 regencies and municipalities in the province are under the yellow category where prevalence is between 20 and 30 percent, and it includes East Java capital Surabaya.

Furthermore, 15 regencies are listed under the green category list (10 to 20 percent prevalence), and only Mojokerto with its low prevalence (6.9 percent) is included in the blue category.

Wardoyo reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to alleviate stunting that continues to be rampant in a number of regions in Indonesia but warned that the work can only be a success if all levels of government work and collaborate.

“The role of local governments, including at provincial, regencial and municipal, subdistrict, and village levels must be optimized in order to reduce stunting,” he explained.

BKKBN has launched national action plans to accelerate stunting reduction in Indonesia, and the state agency has been working with and educating local leaders to ensure the plans are well-implemented in the smallest social units within their respective region.