Tag Archive for: beunisa

Resolving nutrition problems is an important issue, especially during the presidential and vice presidential campaign period in 2024. Of course, many programs related to nutrition and health are also campaigned to gain sympathizers, masses and vote for presidential and vice presidential pairs on February 14, 2024.

Stunting is still an important issue, raised by the three presidential and vice presidential pairs in the 2024 election political stage. Various programs were discussed during the contestation period and open debates.  Presidential candidate number 1 targets no more malnutrition problems in Indonesia, because both health and education are investments in the future of a nation. Furthermore, Candidate No. 3 provides attention and nutritional support to pregnant women, where healthy pregnant women certainly reduce healthy generations, have growth and development and maximum brain function. Meanwhile, the last pair has a program to improve the Healthy Indonesia Card (KIS) for children and the elderly (elderly), where this program seems to be a continuation of the previous government’s program. Including the program touted by candidate no 2 is free lunch and milk at school.

Why is nutrition important for a country?

Nutrition is intrinsically linked to the right to eat and live a healthy life. All people should have access to healthy and nutritious food for optimal development, growth and work productivity. As a basic need, good nutrition is considered an investment (savings) in human resources that provides current and future returns.

There is a lot of research evidence showing that improved nutrition has an impact on the welfare and economy of a nation. The World Bank explains that nutrition interventions can improve a nation’s economy. Research conducted at the University of Indonesia explains that Indonesia has potential economic losses due to stunting in toddlers ranging from IDR 15,062 to IDR 67,780 billion. This amount is equivalent to a range of 0.89-3.99% of total GDP in 2021.  The losses associated with low resource productivity can be prevented if adequate investments are made in proven interventions, especially those that focus on ensuring optimal nutrition in the critical 1000-day window between the beginning of a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday.

History of Nutrition Development

Sixty-four years since the founding of the School of Food Workers established by the People’s Food Institute on January 25, 1951, Indonesia’s cadre of nutrition workers was established. It was the first time that the country paid attention to human resources on nutrition, food and health. The aim of the school was to improve Indonesia’s nutrition.

Schools and education, an investment in the future, are still in existence today. This shows that the nutrition workforce is rapidly expanding to higher education in Indonesia. Based on data from the Indonesian Higher Education Association (AIPGI), there are 33 Nutrition Diploma Programs, 17 Nutrition Diploma Programs, 103 Nutrition Bachelor Programs, 9 Dietisien Profession Programs, 6 Master Programs and 2 Nutrition Doctoral Programs. Really, how many diploma, bachelor, master and doctor graduates every year? It is not impossible that the nutrition resources are ready to realize the Golden Indonesia 2045 program.

Success Stories of Various Countries in Reducing Stunting

Several countries have successfully reduced stunting in a short period of time, including Peru, Thailand, Brazil and Vietnam. In just 8 years from 2008 to 2016 Peru reduced stunting from 28 percent to 13 percent; Thailand reduced it from 25 percent in 1987 to around 10 percent in 2016; between 1974 and 2007, Brazil reduced the prevalence of stunting in children under five from 37.1 percent to 7.1 percent; Vietnam reduced child stunting by almost 50 percent in a decade.

There is no “single recipe” for their success in reducing stunting. Each country uses strategies and approaches that are appropriate to its context. However, the key elements that underlie the varied approaches and that contribute to success are very similar. Each country’s experience shows that sustained political commitment, strong leadership and effective nutrition activists, an enabling policy environment, multi-sectoral action, a focus on evidence-based interventions implemented at scale. Strong monitoring, adequate and well-prioritized funding, and community involvement are key success factors.

Strengthening Institutional Capacity to Reduce Stunting

Indonesia already has a program to reduce malnutrition, in this case stunting, through specific and sensitive nutrition interventions. Not only from the health sector, but efforts to control stunting have been carried out multisectorally. Various efforts have been made to accelerate the reduction of stunting such as increasing leadership commitment in all institutions; increasing behavior change communication; increasing the integration of intervention programs of all institutions; increasing food security and nutrition; and developing and strengthening data, information, research and innovation systems.

At the end of the presidential leadership this time, of course there is also a policy transfer in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution in order to educate the nation’s life. Through presidential and vice presidential campaign activities, the program plans they make are certainly to reduce malnutrition rates in Indonesia. In the course of 64 years, it is hoped that the leader has a stronger commitment to improving the quality of health of the Indonesian people. There are no cases of malnutrition, no pregnant women experiencing malnutrition anemia, and all citizens are covered by health financing.

Nor Eka Noviani, S.Gz., M.PH

Lecturer of Nutrition Study Program Unisa Yogyakarta

UGM Dietisien Professional Student