UNAIR NEWS – Stunting in children is still a serious problem in society as not all mothers understand stunting. UNAIR 67th KKN BBK (Community Service Program – Learning with Community) team held an ‘Anti Stunting’ dissemination event at Tunge Village Hall, Wates, Kediri, Thursday, January 19, 2023.
“We presented dr. Eko Wahyudi as the head of this anti-stunting program. The invited participants were village health cadres, posyandu (integrated mother and child healthcare service post) cadres, and mothers with stunted children,” said Azizia Kanya Fathiarachman, the person in charge of the work program in the health sector on Friday, January 20, 2023.
Kanya said that the problem of stunting in Tunge Village is from a condition of imbalance nutrition with a child’s lack of appetite. Moreover, the genetic disorder of some parents is also one of the causes. But so far, the health conditions of children with stunting are still a particular concern for local health facilities.
“Thank God, the cadres, health facilities, and the mothers here often check the condition of their younger siblings. Height and weight measurements are still often carried out to determine a child’s body mass index so cases can be handled earlier,” said Kanya
Stunting prevention strategy
Stunting is a serious child development problem. Lack of nutrition due to stunting can cause complications in children’s motor skills and intelligence. It is evidenced by the percentage of child brain development, which is 25 percent while in the womb and 75 percent during the first 1000 days after birth.
“Children need nutrition to develop both their motor and sensory. There are many cases of obese and stunted children whose parents are unaware of them, thus hindering their growth and development process,” said dr. Eko Wahyudi Sp AM Ked Klin, Alumni Association (IKA UNAIR), a pediatrician at Simpang Gumul Hospital, Kediri, as a speaker.
Dr. Eko explained that recovery from stunting can be started by setting a meal schedule every 2 hours with an animal protein content of 10 percent. Meal time is given 30 minutes with a meal break, only consuming water.
“For the babies, later on, there will be an application of guidelines for feeding babies and toddlers by consuming an egg a day for six months during the weaning food period. Don’t forget to measure their weight regularly, ” concluded doctor Eko.
Author: Rosita
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
