Wasting and stunting continue to be Indonesia’s main challenges in producing superior generations towards the vision of the Golden Indonesia 2045. To address this issue, the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya (Fikes UB) in collaboration with Unicef held a Workshop on Handling Wasting and Signing of a Joint Commitment Towards a Generation of Malang Raya Free of Wasting on Saturday (14/12/2024) at the Grand Mercure Hotel, Malang.
This workshop involved local governments, community organizations, and academics, including representatives from the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas. Inti Wikanestri, Nutrition Improvement Coordinator for the Directorate of Public Health and Nutrition, Bappenas, emphasized the importance of considering local wisdom in reducing wasting and stunting rates.
“Local governments need to adjust national policies to local contexts, for example in fulfilling the nutrition of pregnant women according to the resources available in their respective regions,” she said.
Dean of Fikes UB, Prof. Dian Handayani, emphasized that her institution is actively committed to handling wasting and stunting through education, research, and community service.
“We have integrated this issue into the curriculum to produce competent health workers,” he said.
In supporting early detection of nutritional problems, Fikes also collaborates with the Association of Early Childhood Educators and Education Personnel (Himpaudi). Head of UB Center of Excellence, Dr. Nia Novita Wirawan, explained that training was given to PAUD teachers to measure children’s nutritional status and monitor growth cards. “If signs of stunting or wasting are found, early treatment can be carried out immediately,” he added.
This collaboration aims to create a Malang Raya free of wasting and stunting as a model for other regions. With a cross-sectoral approach and involvement of various parties, it is hoped that this effort can build superior human resources that are healthy and intelligent.
“For the Golden Indonesia 2045, we need to ensure that every child gets optimal nutrition from an early age,” said Prof. Dian. (*/UB PR/ Trans. Iir).
