On February 2, 2020, the President of the Republic of Indonesia issued a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) specifically targeting the issue of stunting, a significant health concern in the country. Stunting refers to the phenomenon where children have inadequate growth and development due to chronic malnutrition, particularly in the early stages of their lives.
The Perpres on stunting aims to address this critical issue comprehensively and lays out a strategic roadmap to reduce stunting prevalence among children in Indonesia. It outlines various interventions and measures to be implemented by different government institutions, stakeholders, and communities, with the goal of achieving a significant reduction in stunting rates by 2030.
Key Objectives of the Perpres
The Perpres on stunting has several key objectives, including:
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Improving nutrition during the critical first 1000 days: The regulation emphasizes the importance of providing proper nutrition to pregnant women, infants, and children below the age of two. This includes promoting exclusive breastfeeding, improving access to diverse and nutritious food, and enhancing nutrition counseling services for mothers.
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Enhancing the quality of early childhood development services: The Perpres highlights the need for quality early childhood education and development programs. It focuses on improving the accessibility, availability, affordability, and quality of these services at the community level.
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Strengthening intersectoral coordination and collaboration: The Perpres emphasizes the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration to address the underlying causes of stunting effectively. It mandates the establishment of coordination mechanisms at the national, provincial, and district levels, involving various government agencies, ministries, and local governments.
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Improving data management and monitoring: The Perpres recognizes the significance of reliable and up-to-date data to assess the progress and impact of stunting reduction efforts. It promotes the development of a comprehensive data management system and monitoring mechanisms to ensure accurate reporting and evidence-based decision-making.
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Increasing financial support and investment: The regulation highlights the need for increased financial resources to address the issue of stunting effectively. It encourages the allocation of funds from both the national and sub-national budgets to support various interventions, programs, and services related to stunting prevention and reduction.
Implementation and Role of Stakeholders
The Perpres on stunting clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders involved in the implementation process. It assigns key responsibilities to the President, ministries, local governments, communities, and civil society organizations.
The President is tasked with providing overall guidance and direction to ensure the effective implementation of the Perpres. Ministries, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Social Affairs, and others, are responsible for formulating and implementing specific policies, programs, and interventions related to stunting prevention and reduction.
Local governments play a crucial role in implementing and coordinating stunting reduction efforts at the provincial and district levels. They are expected to align their policies and plans with the national objectives and allocate adequate resources to implement interventions effectively.
Communities and civil society organizations are also deemed important stakeholders in the fight against stunting. The Perpres encourages their active participation in raising awareness, implementing community-based initiatives, and supporting the provision of nutrition and early childhood development services.
Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms
To ensure accountability and track progress, the Perpres mandates the establishment of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms at various levels. This includes the establishment of a National Stunting Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, as well as provincial and district-level committees.
These committees are responsible for conducting regular assessments, monitoring the implementation of interventions, evaluating the impact, and reporting progress against key performance indicators. The collected data will contribute to evidence-based decision-making, policy adjustments, and program improvements to enhance the effectiveness of stunting reduction efforts.
In conclusion, the Perpres on stunting in Indonesia seeks to comprehensively address the issue of stunting by focusing on improving nutrition, enhancing early childhood development services, strengthening coordination, improving data management, and increasing financial support. By assigning specific responsibilities to various stakeholders and establishing monitoring mechanisms, the Perpres aims to ensure the successful implementation and evaluation of interventions. With concerted efforts, it is expected that the prevalence of stunting among children in Indonesia will significantly decrease in the coming years.
