Efforts to prevent stunting are underway in Indonesia, with a focus on long-term changes in nutritional and health behaviors at the family and community levels. These actions are particularly important following recent natural disasters, such as flooding in Sumatra.
Community-Based Prevention Programs
Since 2024, Bakti BCA has been implementing the “Let’s Prevent Stunting” (LPS) program. The program began by mapping local conditions and potential, then designing interventions to strengthen community capacity. This included engaging local leaders and providing educational resources to encourage positive health changes.
In 2025, the LPS program expanded to include training for health workers, a digital monitoring system, and increased involvement of adolescents as health advocates. The program aims to support nutritional health from pregnancy through adolescence.
New Digital Tools for Monitoring
A new monitoring dashboard has been developed to help health workers and community members track child growth more efficiently. This system allows for quicker and more accurate data analysis, enabling early detection of stunting risks and a comprehensive view of nutritional conditions at the village level. Additionally, fetal monitors were distributed to community health centers in Nagari Guguak and Taman Indah Village to improve monitoring of pregnant women’s health.
The LPS program also encourages the consumption of iron-folic acid tablets and recognizes the contributions of local champions, health workers, and program participants. Participants in the Remaja Lapangan Sekolah program have been designated as Adolescent Stunting Ambassadors, tasked with promoting healthy lifestyles within their communities.
Program participants have showcased successful practices, including home gardens producing vegetables like eggplant and tomatoes, and presentations of healthy menus tailored to the nutritional needs of toddlers, pregnant women, and adolescents. These efforts demonstrate a commitment to locally-relevant and sustainable solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of the LPS program?
The primary goal of the LPS program is to strengthen the capacity and independence of communities to prevent stunting, from the pregnancy period through adolescence.
Where has the LPS program been implemented?
The LPS program has been implemented in Nagari Guguak, Padang Pariaman District, West Sumatra, and Taman Indah Village, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.
What new tools are being used to monitor stunting risks?
A new digital monitoring dashboard and fetal monitors have been introduced to help health workers record, analyze, and respond to potential stunting risks more effectively.
How might communities continue to build on these efforts to address stunting in the future?
