MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – In a landmark initiative to curb stunting rates in Indonesia, the ‘Aisyiyah partnered with the Faculty of Public Health of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) to announce the winners of the PMT Local Hunter 2023 competition on December 21.
Tri Hastuti Nur Rochimah, General Secretary of ‘Aisyiyah and Coordinator of the ‘Aisyiyah Inclusion Program, acknowledged the ongoing struggle against stunting, despite a recent, albeit insufficient, decline in national figures. She highlighted the underutilized potential of Indonesia’s diverse local food ingredients in addressing this critical issue.
“Local communities often lack the knowledge and awareness to leverage readily available resources, particularly for creating nutritional supplements based on local food sources,” emphasized Rochimah.
The PMT Local Hunter competition served as a strategic solution, aiming to encourage innovation and broaden collective understanding of local food-based stunting reduction strategies.
“As instant food proliferates, reviving local food as a cornerstone of nutritional intake is crucial,” said Tri.
Furthermore, the initiative aligns with the Indonesian government’s National Food and Nutrition Action Plan (RAN-PG). Rochimah reiterated Aisyiyah’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with various stakeholders to tackle stunting, citing the Inclusion program, an Australia-Indonesia partnership fostering an inclusive society.
Aisyiyah’s interventions include implementing the Aisyiyah Nutrition House initiative at the community level. However, Tri acknowledges the persistent challenges that necessitate collective action.
“We remain steadfast in strengthening collaboration with the government, academia, civil society organizations, Persagi, universities, and other key players to realize our collective dream of reducing stunting to 14%,” said Tri.
Achieving this target is particularly crucial as Indonesia gears up for its centenary in 2045.
“A nation’s progress hinges on its human resources, and optimum human development begins with proper nutrition,” said Tri.
