IPB University’s Academic Team Joins the Nutritious DASHAT Nusantara Menu Book Development Team to Combat Stunting
The National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) together with the Association of Indonesian Higher Education Institutions in Nutrition (AIPGI) launched the book ‘Nutritious DASHAT Nusantara Menu for Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding Mothers, and Infants’ in Jakarta. This launch is part of a program that is aimed to stimulate the reduction of stunting through the synchronization and synergy of population-focused development policies.
Prof Hardinsyah, a Professor of Nutrition at IPB University and also the Chairman of AIPGI, stated that the compilation of the Nutritious Menu book ‘Healthy Kitchen to Overcome Stunting’ (DASHAT) contains 14 publications representing 13 provinces. The DASHAT menu development team consists of academics and nutrition experts from Indonesian universities and the government. In addition, several faculty members from the Nutrition Science Program at IPB University also contributed to the menu development team.
As for the thirteen provinces represented in the book, they include Aceh, North Sumatra, Banten, West Java, and Central Java. Furthermore, the regions encompass East Java, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and West Nusa Tenggara. They also extend to East Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and Papua.
“This book contains ways to utilize local food as a source of nutritious sustenance through backyard gardening, simple planting activities for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under two years old (infants). This book can also be utilized by BKKBN in various regions to integrate it upstream into the stunting prevention program,” he explained.
Dr Hasto Wardoyo, as the Chairman of BKKBN, stated that the launch of the book is also aimed at socializing it to the general public. As a matter of fact, the cadre members, as the forefront in DASHAT management, are also involved.
“After examining the nutritional status of families, children, and prospective mothers, we are concerned. This is because, when we look at the Elsimil application (Health Monitoring Tool for Marriage Readiness and Pregnancy Program), in some areas, we actually still observe the prevalence of anemia,” he said.
Dr Hasto further mentioned that 80 percent of married couples give birth within the first year. However, this is not balanced with knowledge about anemia or chronic energy deficiency (KEK). As a result, their children experience stunting.
With the launch of this book, it is hoped to become one of the driving forces in accelerating the reduction of stunting. Other than that, the education for pregnant mothers will also be conducted through digital approaches. (MW/Rz) (IAAS/ZRT)
