IPB University Students Prevent Stunting in Loji Village: Optimizing the First 1000 Days of Life
The Innovation Real-Thematic Work Lecture IPB University Loji Village team has implemented a program with the theme “Golden Generation Without Stunting: Efforts to Prevent Stunting and Optimize the First 1000 Days of Life (HPK)” on 16/7 at Mayar Kuning Posyandu.
The program was attended by pregnant women, mothers with children under five, Simpenan District National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) officers, and posyandu cadres who play an active role in stunting prevention efforts in Loji Village.
Stunting is a condition of chronic malnutrition in infants under two years old (baduta) during the first 1000 days of life which results in inhibition of brain development and child growth. A child is considered stunted if their height is shorter than their age standard.
According to Maharesta Aura Ergiona Putri, a student of Innovation Real-Thematic Work Lecture Desa Loji, this activity aims to increase awareness and knowledge of pregnant women and mothers of children under five about stunting and how to prevent it.
“The long-term impacts of stunting are very serious, including decreased cognitive ability, easy exposure to disease and increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, stroke, and disability in old age,” said Maharesta.
He continued, stunting also hampers economic growth and productivity, which in turn exacerbates economic inequality in society.
“The program held by the Loji Village Innovation Real-Thematic Work Lecture Team is a real step to break the vicious cycle of malnutrition. Malnourished women tend to give birth to children who are also malnourished, so intervention in the early stages of life is very important to stop this cycle,” she said.
She said, in addition to counseling and education on the importance of 1000 HPK, this activity was also complemented by the delivery of Supplementary Food Provision (PMT) in the form of egg corn pudding, lapis tofu noodles filled with chicken, and papaya calina.
“The provision of additional food is expected to provide additional nutritional intake for pregnant women and children under five to support their growth and development,” said Maharesta.
“The participants actively asked questions and discussed ways to prevent stunting and the importance of providing balanced nutrition for children. With programs like this, we hope to create a golden generation of Indonesia that is free from stunting and has a brighter future,” she said. (*/Lp) (IAAS/SNI)
