Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi pointed to a decline in the number of cases of malnutrition and stunting among children in 2021.
The mayor noted that the number of children in Surabaya suffering from severe nutritional detriment decreased, from 196 cases in 2020 to 159 cases in 2021. Cahyadi delivered the statement in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday.
The number of cases of stunting, which was more than five thousand in 2020, also decreased to 1,300 cases after the mentoring program kicked off in October 2021.
The mayor remarked that the city government had collaborated with some universities to employ assistance in overcoming nutritional problems among toddlers.
Universities partnering up with the city government in providing assistance include Airlangga University, Wijaya Kusuma University, Hang Tuah University, Widya Mandala University, Nahdlatul Ulama University, Muhammadiyah University, Ciputra University, and the University of Surabaya (Ubaya).
Cahyadi noted that his administration was conducting programs to prevent stunting and handling its cases. They expected to bring down the number of cases to zero by January or February 2022.
The government has dispatched Family Empowerment (PKK) cadres, family planning cadres, and health workers in all sub-districts and villages to collect data on residents getting married, pregnant women, and families with newborns in need of assistance.
They also initiated the Stunting Prevention Group program, with Head of Surabaya Family Empowerment Driving Force Rini Indriyani at the helm, to find the causes and solutions to nutritional and stunting problems in children.
In addition, the city government provides food assistance thrice as well as provides vitamins and milk to toddlers, who suffered from stunting.
“The Surabaya City Government takes these steps until the baby is considered to be stunting-free based on the minimum height and weight,” the mayor noted.
Additionally, they hosted a special competition of menu preparation for stunted children.
“Most of these children love snacking, so we created a new menu tailored to the child’s nutrition. Finally, in these three months, the number has dropped drastically, as food and nutrition are assisted by nutritionists, who are also guided by universities,” the mayor concluded.
Source: Antara News