Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged community health centers (puskesmas) to innovate in reducing the number of stunting cases in their respective areas.During his visit to Srikuncoro Puskesmas in Central Bengkulu District, Bengkulu Province, on Thursday, he lauded the puskesmas’ innovation in processing eel and cassava into additional nutritious food for children. “Those food commodities, including eel nuggets, provide high protein. This type of innovation is needed to accelerate the reduction of stunting in all regions,” Jokowi said, as quoted from a broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat Bureau in Jakarta. The head of state also praised the success of the Bengkulu government in reducing the prevalence of child stunting from 22 percent to 18 percent. “I am pleased that stunting prevalence in Bengkulu Province has decreased from 22 percent to 18 percent, which is below the national average,” he remarked. Jokowi also expressed optimism that the number could fall below 14 percent by 2024. Stunting prevalence in Indonesia has dropped from 24.4 percent in 2021 to 21.6 percent in 2022. The government is targeting to reduce the number of stunting cases to 14 percent by 2024. Jokowi has called on all local governments to increase the provision of additional nutritious food to prevent children from experiencing stunting, a condition in which children fail to grow due to chronic malnutrition, recurrent infections, and a lack of stimulation. “In Bengkulu, I assessed that not many children experienced stunting and continue to be given good nutrition, and this is what I want all provinces to do the same,” he affirmed. Moreover, he stated that public participation, private participation, and private donations are used to support stunting eradication efforts. ccompanying the president on his working visit were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, and Acting Head of Central Bengkulu District Heriyandi Roni.

Source: Antara News Agency