Malang – The stunting rate in Indonesia has fallen but still has not met the target. For this reason, the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN) continues to make various efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting in Indonesia, one of which is by involving experts and academics both at home and abroad through various scientific studies that were dissected in ‘The 2nd SouthEast Asia Biennial Conference on Population and Health Related to Stunting (SEAA)’ 2022 at Samantha Krida Building, Universitas Brawijaya Malang (4/10).
Head of BKKBN, Dr. (HC), dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp.OG (K) revealed that the stunting rate in Indonesia has decreased compared to last year. Based on SSGI 2021 data, the stunting rate in Indonesia is 24.4 percent while in East Java, it is 23.5 percent.
“This activity is a biennial agenda and today’s activity is the second activity. The first was carried out in 2018,” explained dr. Hasto.
- Hasto added that in addition to the problem of stunting, Indonesia will soon be faced with an aging population in 2035, where Indonesia will experience an increase in the number of elderly people from 18 million people (7.56%) in 2010 to 25.9 million people (9.7%). ) in 2019, and is expected to continue to increase where in 2035 it will be 48.2 million people (15.77%).
“When there is an aging population, qualified human resources of productive age are needed because of the very high dependency ratio. Where the productive age must bear the costs of unproductive human resources, namely the elderly and children under 14 years of age. Where these two elements of human resources are not productive but require costs. which is quite large,” said dr. Hasto.
For this reason, continued Doctor Hasto, it is very important for Indonesia to reduce stunting rates and even zero stunting to welcome the era of the aging population.
“Stunting children must be human resources who are less able to compete in the future. Even though their duties and responsibilities are very large,” he said.
For this reason, BKKBN and its partners continue to make various efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting in Indonesia by making efforts to prevent stunting. In addition, the BKKBN also prepares an economic empowerment program for women of non-productive age, where the number of elderly women will be greater than that of elderly men. Where the death rate for men is higher than the death rate for women.
In the same place, the Deputy Governor of East Java, Dr. Emil Elestianto Dardak expressed his appreciation for the performance of the BKKBN during the leadership of Dr. Hasto Wardoyo all this time.
“I salute the Head of the BKKBN since I became the Regent of Trenggalek, dr. Hasto has been very precise in making policies in overcoming this population problem,” said Emil Dardak.
Emil added that for the policies taken to be right on target and the program can run according to the target, stable data is needed where every Ministry/Agency has the same data. So far, there are discrepancies between the data from the ministry and the board.
“For that, we need stable data by name that can be used by both ministry and the board according to their respective needs”, he explained.
Previously, the Chancellor of Universitas Brawijaya, Prof. Widodo said Tri Dharma University is education, research, and community service. Brawijaya University has provided community assistance regarding stunting by involving more than 800 students and lecturers around Malang Raya in thematic KKN activities in 2022.
“Besides the problem of stunting, Universitas Brawijaya also prepares for problems that will arise when the aging population occurs. Various studies have been carried out to prepare and look for alternative nutrition and food that are expected to reduce various problems that accompany aging”, he explained.
Meanwhile, at the Press Conference, YBrs. Encik Abdul Shukur bin Abdullah, Head Director of the National Population and Family Development Institute (LPPKN), Malaysia said that not only in Indonesia, the stunting problem is also a serious concern for the Malaysian Government where based on data from the Malaysian Ministry of Health, currently, the stunting rate in Malaysia is also still low with 21%.
“In addition to stunting, Malaysia also faces an aging population in 2039 or 5 years earlier than Indonesia. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s TFR is still at 1.7 with the 2022 target at 1.5,” he said. (Public Relations)