Jakarta (ANTARA) – Stunting has become one of the important topics discussed at the 2023 National Children’s Day (HAN) commemoration in Indonesia due to its double impact on intelligence disorders and is a serious threat to children’s health.Stunting in children is not only a matter of lower-than-average height for their age but could also hamper their ability to learn, cause mental retardation, and trigger several chronic diseases that cast a shadow over their future. The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) reported that some 400 thousand babies were born with stunting out of 1.6 million live births each year in Indonesia, or the equivalent of 24.4 percent in 2021. Hence, Indonesian President Joko Widodo targets the acceleration of stunting reduction to 14 percent by 2024 through collaboration between stakeholders and the community. The finding of stunting cases nowadays is an important capital that needs immediate intervention, so it will not hinder the achievements of the Golden Generation in 2045, in which the current group of children determines the demographic bonus at a productive age. The government estimates that in the next 22 years, nearly 70 percent of Indonesia’s population will be in the productive age bracket of 15-64 years, while the remaining 30 percent will enter the unproductive category with ages under 14 years and over 65 years. If this demographic bonus is not utilized properly, it is bound to have negative impacts, especially social problems, such as poverty, poor health, unemployment, and high crime rates.
Source: Antara News Agency