Governor of the Riau Islands, Ansar Ahmad, calls on the academic community to actively participate in accelerating the reduction of stunting in the province. This message was conveyed during the Seminar on the Role of Civitas in Accelerating Stunting Reduction through the Kepri Cares for Stunting Campus (Kamping Kepri) at the University of Ibnu Sina Batam Auditorium on Saturday, December 16, 2023.Governor of the Riau Islands, Ansar Ahmad, calls on the academic community to actively participate in accelerating the reduction of stunting in the province. This message was conveyed during the Seminar on the Role of Civitas in Accelerating Stunting Reduction through the Kepri Cares for Stunting Campus (Kamping Kepri) at the University of Ibnu Sina Batam Auditorium on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
Stunting, a strategic issue of national concern, has caught the attention of both central and regional governments. President’s Regulation No. 72 of 2021 on Accelerating Stunting Reduction underlines the importance of this issue, linking stunting directly to the nation’s future and the government’s burden of ensuring public welfare.
Governor Ansar emphasizes that reducing stunting is crucial to ensuring a productive future for Indonesia, especially in utilizing the demographic dividend, where the productive-age population must be free from stunting.
Kepri has made notable progress in stunting reduction, now ranking fourth lowest among 38 provinces in Indonesia. From a stunting rate of 17.6% in 2021, the province successfully reduced it to 15.4% in 2022, with a target to drop below 14% by 2024.
Ansar acknowledges the role of all sectors, including government, private, community, and academic institutions, in achieving these goals. He highlights the success of Karimun Regency, which reduced its stunting rate from 15% to 11%.
The Governor appreciates the efforts of students in educating the community about stunting and hopes more universities will join in addressing this issue in Kepri.
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Despite Kepri’s vast marine resources, stunting remains a challenge, underscoring the need for concerted efforts to address nutritional deficiencies in the region.
The Governor’s call for academic involvement in stunting reduction is a significant step towards a healthier future for Kepri’s population, highlighting the region’s potential to leverage its natural resources for better public health.
Governor Ansar Ahmad of Kepri urges academic communities to play an active role in reducing stunting, a critical public health issue. With significant progress already made, the involvement of universities and students is seen as key to further decreasing stunting rates in the province, leveraging Kepri’s abundant marine resources.
Source: Pos Metro, Radar Malaka (2023)
