The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has highlighted the need for cross-sectoral program convergence to expedite stunting reduction this year.

“It is needed because efforts for stunting reduction must be carried out in a holistic and integrative manner through the collaboration of cross-sectoral programs,” Agus Suprapto, the ministry’s deputy for coordination of health quality improvement and population development, said here on Tuesday.

The ministry is encouraging the strengthening of cross-sectoral program convergence in 2023 as well as the strengthening of the role of partners and community leaders in the stunting reduction program.

The role of partners and community leaders extends to measures to prevent anemia in young women and pregnant women, prevent early marriage, and encourage the participation of men in supporting efforts to prevent stunting, Suprapto added.

The active role of all stakeholders, starting from the government, businesses, and universities, to the community, needs to be strengthened in 2023, he said.

This, according to him, is in line with Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021, Article 8, Paragraph 4, which requires the implementation of stunting reduction acceleration to involve all stakeholders.

“The active role and joint action of all stakeholders are expected to support government efforts to reduce stunting prevalence to 14 percent by 2024,” he said.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said that stunting prevalence needs to be brought down from the current 24.4 percent to 14 percent by 2024.

Source: Antara News