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Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi visits the house of one of the stunted toddlers in Bringin Village on Friday, December 24, 2021. (FOTO ANTARA/HO-Humas Pemkot Surabaya) - 

Hydroponic fish and vegetable cultivation is a solution that has begun to be promoted to the people of Surabaya in East Java in an effort to reduce stunting.

Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi affirmed that the efforts made by the Surabaya city government in suppressing stunting were not merely limited to focusing on information expedition and intervention but also encouraging health cadres, village heads, and sub-district heads to innovate, so that issues related to stunting could be addressed suitably.

"During a visit to the house of one of the stunted toddlers in Bringin Village yesterday (December 24), I told the sub-district head, village head, and health cadres to be more proactive in cultivating hydroponic fish and vegetables," he said here on Saturday.

According to Eri, hydroponic fish and vegetable cultivation is part of an innovative way to lower the stunting rates, though it should irrefutably be balanced with patience of each parent.

The mayor also advised the parents of toddlers with stunting to pay attention to their child's diet by for instance, offering protein-rich foods at least twice a day or by being innovative in serving foods in visually appealing ways to entice children to consume them.

"If the food is decorated (in an compelling style), then the children will like it. Hence, the children will be interested, (and they will eat it)," he remarked.

Cahyadi pointed to the stunting rate in Surabaya having dropped to 34th out of the 38 districts and cities in East Java Province. Earlier, Surabaya was ranked third in East Java in terms of the stunting rate.

The number of cases of stunting among toddlers in 31 sub-districts of Surabaya City in the last three months decreased, from 5,727 cases to 1,785 cases as of December 6. Of the 1,785 cases, the Surabaya city government will conduct comprehensive data collection on them and categorize them accordingly.

The mapping was conducted in order to figure out which ones were residents with or without Surabaya identity cards. "Thus, the city government's intervention to deal with cases of stunting among toddlers can be prioritized," he added//ANT

Fadillah Arbi Aditama at the 2021 Asia Talent Cup. (ANTARA/HO-Astra Honda/uyu) - 

Indonesian racer Fadillah Arbi Aditama, 16, has been officially selected for Dorna’s Junior Talent Team for the 2022 FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship.

Dorna Sports is the organizer of several global motorcycle racing events. FIM Junior Grand Prix usually serves as a stepping stone for young riders for entering the higher level of MotoGP.

Aditama has been selected for the team along with Danial Sharil (Malaysia), Tatchakorn Buasri (Thailand), and Eddie O'Shea (English).

"I am very grateful for the opportunity. I will do my best to be able to get the highest achievements in the championship," he said, according to information posted on the official website of Astra Honda Motor on Saturday.

Aditama is an alumnus of Astra Honda Racing School 2019.

He stole the show in his debut at the 2021 Asia Talent Cup.

He performed well and consistently right from the test session at Losail Circuit, Qatar, which took place on March 19–21, 2021.

In the first round of the championship, Aditama recorded a time of 2 minutes 12.327 seconds in the qualifying session, just 0.471 seconds behind Japanese rider Taiyo Furusato, who recorded the fastest time.

The record made Aditama the third fastest rider in the session.

"I need to adapt as quickly as possible to compete with other racers from various countries, especially with the ones who are used to racing in European circuits,” he remarked.

Furthermore, he sought the support of all Indonesian people so that he can make the nation proud at the international racing event.

In addition to the 2022 FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship, the young rider will compete for Dorna Sports at the 2022 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup//ANT

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (ANTARA/HO Kemenko Kemaritiman dan Investasi) - 

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan reminded people to steer clear from going overboard while celebrating Christmas and New Year's 2022 and also to follow health protocols with discipline.

"The celebrations of Christmas and New Year's 2022 are still being conducted in a simple way without being excessive, because we must continue to maintain and improve our discipline in following the COVID-19 health protocols," Pandjaitan noted in one of his posts uploaded on his personal Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan on Saturday.

The minister pointed out that in the past two years, Indonesia had been battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister expressed gratitude over the significant decline in the number of positive confirmed cases and death rates. He also thanked God, as the pandemic could be faced together and eventually surmounted.

"This is all thanks to our prayers and efforts together, and with us working hard and being united, we are able to do this in an integrated manner," he affirmed.

Pandjaitan also advised to increase concern over health and adherence to health protocols.

"I believe and hope that in future, we would be able to fight together to face this difficult time. Do not become arrogant, stay humble, and everyone must keep working together. Those are the keys to our success in dealing with this for the past two years,” he recalled.

He also reminded the public to not become euphoric after the COVID-19 cases were brought under control, as the pandemic was still ongoing. On the positive side, Indonesia’s economic recovery was progressing at a much faster rate as compared to other countries.

“We can be proud, but we should not be arrogant. I expect that we do not become complacent because there is still a long way to go (to emerge) from COVID-19. There is still much we do not know about COVID-19, and we are lucky to be one of the few countries whose economic recovery is rapid, even though we have been attacked by the delta variant," he remarked.

Pandjaitan expects everyone to unite together against the pandemic that continues to haunt Indonesia.

"May the God, Most Merciful, be with us in 2022, (guiding us to) make Indonesia even better," he concluded//ANT

Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Human Rights Mahfud MD at the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in Diponegoro Road, Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday (Dec 25, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Biro Adpim Jatim - 

Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Human Rights Mahfud MD reiterated the Indonesian government's resolve to ensure equal rights and grant equal protection for religious denominations and organizations.

"Indonesia protects all religions in the country, as it does not recognize only a single religion that completely dictates activities in the country," the coordinating minister said during his visit to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tegalsari Sub-district, here, on Saturday.

Indonesia is not a secular state that completely separates religion from the state, he noted.

"Indonesia is neither a religious nor a secular state, but we are a Pancasilaist state that protects residents belonging to religious denominations," he remarked.

Mahfud remarked that Indonesian founders firmly believe that all religions preach kindness for humankind.

"We may observe differences in religious rituals and organizations, but in the end, all religions teach kindness. Indonesia is not a country that sanctions only a single religion. Hence, we must provide equal protection to all religions and their adherents," the coordinating minister stated.

As a Pancasilaist country, with belief in God as one of its core tenets, the government is obliged to protect religious activities and adherents in Indonesia, Mahfud noted.

"Indonesia does not recognize only a single religious denomination, and the Pancasila principle of 'Belief in the Almighty God' is actualized by the government's determination to protect all religious faiths," he stated.

Earlier, Mahfud had visited the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) at Diponegoro Road, Surabaya, to observe Christmas activities in the city.

East Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta, Brawijaya/V Regional Military Command Chief Major General Nurcahyanto, and East Java Province acting Regional Secretary Heru Tjahjono also joined the coordinating minister's visit to Surabaya churches//ANT