Efforts to Prevent Stunting: PPK Ormawa Himasiter IPB Launches a Healthy and Nutritious PMT Program in Sinarsari Village
In an effort to support the prevention of stunting in Indonesia, the team from the Program for Strengthening the Capacity of Student Organizations (PPK Ormawa) of the Student Association of Animal Nutrition and Feed (Himasiter) at IPB University has launched a program for the Provision of Healthy and Nutritious Supplementary Food (PMT). The program was initiated at Posyandu Sadewa, Sinarsari Village, Bogor Regency, West Java.
This program is being implemented in Sinarsari Village, a village located in Bogor Regency. The village was chosen due to its relatively high prevalence of stunting, according to data from local health centers and posyandu.
Mutiara Rizkia Nurkamil, a member of the Himasiter IPB University team, stated that the program aims to improve the nutritional status of toddlers, children, and the health of pregnant women in the village. This effort is part of the national program to address stunting.
“Our effort to tackle the stunting issue includes the planting of moringa, ginger, and katuk (locally known as ‘jaketuk’) in the Seroja Women’s Farming Group (KWT) garden in Sinarsari Village, with the goal of ensuring that the supplementary food program utilizes local food sources sustainably,” she said.
These local food ingredients are also processed into moringa sponge cakes for children aged 1-5 years and jaketuk lactation booster tea for pregnant women. This jaketuk tea can also be consumed by parents to prevent cholesterol and anemia. These innovative processed PMT products are distributed across nine posyandu in Sinarsari Village.
“The provision of this food is conducted regularly for a month, accompanied by demonstrations on how to make PMT products at the end of each month. The PMT products provided each month vary, with the hope of meeting the daily nutritional needs of children at risk of stunting,” she added.
Parents with toddlers are invited to the nearest posyandu to receive supplementary food and also receive education on the importance of balanced nutrition for their children’s growth and development.
The PMT program began in early July 2024 and will last for three months. The program involves various parties, including the PPK Ormawa Himasiter team as the main driver, as well as the village government and healthcare workers from local health centers. The supplementary food is prepared and distributed by students, with assistance from local posyandu cadres.
Acim Setiabudi, Chief of the Section (Kasi) of Sinarsari Village, expressed his support for the program. According to him, this program from IPB University students is highly beneficial for the community.
“Hopefully, this service program focusing on stunting can bring about diverse innovations that will continue in the following months,” said Ukon, Chief of Sinarsari Village.
According to Mutiara, the PMT program is expected to reduce the stunting rate in Sinarsari Village. Himasiter IPB University believes that interventions through the provision of nutritious food are a strategic step to improve the quality of life for children in the village. (IAAS/RUM)
