Have you ever noticed how some children don’t grow as tall or develop as quickly as others their age? At first, it might seem like just a matter of genetics. But when growth falls behind significantly, the issue could be something more serious: STUNTING.
Stunting isn’t just about height. It’s about a child missing out on the nutrition and care they need in the first 1,000 days of life, starting from pregnancy to age two. This has long-term effects: not only slower physical growth, but also delayed brain development, lower learning capacity, and higher health risks later in life.
The latest data from Indonesia gives us a mixed picture. According to the 2024 National Nutrition Survey (SSGI), the prevalence of stunting among children under five has dropped to 19.8%, down from 21.5% in 2023. It’s progress, Indonesia has even surpassed its 2024 target of 20.1%. But let’s be clear: nearly 1 in 5 Indonesian children are still stunted. That’s not just a statistic, it’s a warning sign for the nation’s future.
What causes this? Often it’s not just one factor, but many: poor nutrition for mothers during pregnancy, inadequate feeding practices for infants, frequent infections, lack of clean water and sanitation, limited healthcare access, and the wider issues of poverty and inequality.
The good news is, stunting is preventable. With proper nutrition for expectant mothers, exclusive breastfeeding and balanced diets for babies, clean water and sanitation, regular health check-ups, and community education, we can change the story.
At the end of the day, this isn’t only about numbers on a health chart. It’s about giving every child the chance to grow, learn, and thrive. Because when a generation is healthy and strong, so is the nation’s future.