VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia has ranked 130th out of 199 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) has said.

"Data from the World Bank shows that Indonesia's HDI is still at number 130 out of 199 countries, as well as our EQ ranking, which ranks 6th in ASEAN," BKKBN head Hasto Wardoyo said at the “2022 National Stunting Forum” in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Indonesia's stunting rate, which has been recorded at 24.4 percent, is a reflection of the low quality of its human resources, he observed. Given the low index score, stunting has become one of the main focuses of the government’s development efforts.

Based on the directions of the President and Vice President, in 2024, Indonesia will need to achieve a stunting rate of 14 percent to boost the quality of human resources and realize the advanced Indonesia goal, he said.

"In the past few years, stunting reduction has never exceeded 2 percent per year. In accordance with the direction of Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in 2022, it is hoped that stunting reduction can be optimized to reach 3 percent to achieve the target in 2024," he added.

In carrying out the mandate set in Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021, BKKBN is emphasizing the acceleration of stunting reduction by strengthening synergy and collaboration between relevant ministries/agencies through the National Action Plan or RAN PASTI.

Wardoyo said that several efforts have been made to improve human resources through stunting reduction, including providing “by name by address” data on families at risk of stunting and forming Family Assistance Teams (TPK), which have spread to districts/cities.

"We also provide assistance to all prospective brides before they reach childbearing age and conduct surveillance of special cases of stunting. For difficult cases of stunting, audits are carried out in all districts/cities in Indonesia," he disclosed.

The BKKBN has also begun to mobilize religious leaders to educate people about stunting in their sermons, such as in Yogyakarta province and Brebes, Central Java. The program will be expanded across the region in 2023.

BKKBN has also begun to visit the homes of families at risk of stunting to check their latrines and sanitation, in collaboration with the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry.

Together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, BKKBN is also working to converge the regional budget to handle stunting cases. Meanwhile, next year, the government plans to provide complementary food to the target audience.

In addition, the agency is collaborating with the Ministry of Education and Culture to deploy university students to help make the government's stunting eradication program a success.

Wardoyo lauded all parties who have worked hand in hand to reduce stunting. He said he hopes that this cooperation will not stop even after the stunting rate reaches the target requested by President Joko Widodo.

"In August 2022, we have carried out reconciliation for the district provincial task force, especially in the 12 priority provinces. This is in line with the Vice President's direction," he added.

Earlier, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported that Indonesia's HDI in 2022 reached 72.91, an increase of 0.62 points (0.86 percent) compared to the previous year (72.29).

HDI status describes the level of human development achievement during a certain period. An HDI status of ≥ 80 is said to be very high, 70 to 80 is considered high, 60–70 moderate, and low if the figure is less than 60. (Antaranews)