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One-third of RI children suffer from stunted growth: NGO
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s many as 8.9 million Indonesian children, 37 percent of them, are suffering from stunted growth caused by malnutrition, a humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children and families is saying.
Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), a partner organization of World Vision, says it has also found that 3.3 million Indonesian children, or 12 percent of them, have lower-than-expected body weights, which may eventually affect their health and productivity in the future.
WVI's communications director Priscilla Christin said on Sunday that among the major causes of the malnutrition currently affecting millions of Indonesian children was people's tendency to consume instant processed food instead of fresh food.
"We are trying to educate community members that the first 1,000 days of life, starting from when they are still in the womb up until 2 years of age, is a golden period. Thus, we must take care of children's dietary intake during this period,' she said in a campaign event held at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta, on Sunday.
Priscilla said WVI was approaching and working with community members to create a better understanding about the importance of nutrition during childhood for the sake of the children's future.
"We have proved that active participation from the communities through the activities of various local integrated health posts (Posyandu) are effective in solving malnutrition cases," she said.
WVI has been running its child, family and community welfare programs since 1995 in 55 regencies and municipalities in nine provinces across Indonesia. (prm/ebf)(+++)
