Jakarta- The Health Ministry is trying to provide anthropometric devices to all integrated health posts (posyandus) to increase accurate measurements of toddlers’ growth, which is necessary for the early detection of stunting.
“In order to standardize the examination of the baby’s measurements, we will use an anthropometric device at all posyandus in Indonesia. With the device, we hope we can quickly detect delayed growth in children to prevent chronic malnutrition that leads to stunting,” Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin informed in a press statement received here on Monday.
He said the ministry is targeting to deliver 313,737 anthropometric devices to 303,416 posyandus in Indonesia by 2024.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, 25,177 community health centers (puskesmas) had anthropometry tools in 2019, and in 2020, at least 1,823 posyandus were equipped with physical measurement devices.
Meanwhile, 16,936 posyandus had anthropometric equipment in 2021. Their number grew to 34,256 in 2022, the minister added.
The minister said that a diagnosis of stunting can be made based on history, physical examination, and other supporting examinations.
Anthropometric results or physical measurements of children aged under five as part of posyandu activities can be used as a reference for detecting the risk of stunting, he added.
He said that based on the measurements, children under five who show indications of stunting can be referred to a first-level health facility for further examination.
Infants and children under five who are diagnosed with stunting based on the examination results will be referred to a pediatrician at an advanced referral health facility for further treatment, he added.
Source: Antara News