Commitment to Accelerate Stunting Reduction Prevalence to 14%, Dexa Medica and BKKBN Educate Thousand of Midwives

Various parties are involved in the pentahelix collaboration to pursue the stunting reduction target of 14% by 2024. To continue pursuinh the stunting reduction target set by President Joko Widodo, the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) collaborated with Dexa Medica and the South Sumatra Provincial Government to hold a Midwife Education and Stunting Intervention in Palembang on Tuesday, 27 June 2023.

Present at the event was the Head of the Indonesian BKKBN Mr. Dr.(H.C.) dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp.OG(K), Governor of South Sumatra Mr. Herman Deru, Corporate Affairs Director Dexa Group Mr. Tarcisius Tanto Randy, Director of PT Dexa Medica Mr. Gunawan Lukman, Sales and Marketing Director of Consumer Health PT Dexa Medica Mr. Maret Yudianto, Head of Corporate Communications Mr. Sonny Himawan, Gynecologist and Obstetrics Specialist Dr. Nuswil Bernolian, Sp. Og (K), as well as hundreds of midwives from the Indonesian Midwives Association in South Sumatra Province.

Mr. Hasto Wardoyo said that South Sumatra Province ranks first nationally in reducing stunting. This achievement is a result of the hard work of midwives, local government, support from the Dexa Group which continuously educates midwives throughout Indonesia.

“This is all of our hard work, good collaboration between the government, the private sector, including midwives. I really appreciate this harmonious collaboration to pursue the stunting reduction target set by President Joko Widodo,” said Hasto.

Mr. Herman Deru said that the stunting rate in South Sumatra Province, which was previously 24.8% in 2021, can be reduced by 6.2% to 18.6% in 2022. This is driven by various factors, such as cross-sectoral collaboration, improved sanitation, a good lifestyle and the Food Independent South Sumatra Movement (GSMP).

“Reducing stunting prevalance is not only the responsibility of one party, all have roles and responsibilities including pharmaceutical companies such as the Dexa Group. We should echo this concern so that all parties participate, hopefully Indonesia can achieve the WHO target of below 20% and the President has instructed a target of 14%. This education program is very important for midwives who are at the forefront of services for pregnant women and children,” said Mr. Herman Deru.

dr. Nuswil Bernolian, Sp.Og explained that stunting was caused by multidimensional factors of intervention in the first 1,000 days of life (HPK). “There are several factors that cause stunting, including poor parenting practices, limited health services including ante-natal care and post-natal care, lack of access to nutritious food, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation,” he explained.

Dexa Group’s Contribution in Stunting Intervension

Corporate Affairs Director of Dexa Group Mr. Tarcisius Tanto Randy said Dexa Group contributed to overcoming stunting with BKKBN, the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkompinda), and the Indonesian Midwives Association by educating midwives in South Sumatera.

“We have collaborated to educate midwives and the public regarding the importance of maintaining pregnancy in the First 1,000 Days of Life we have carried out in several cities in Indonesia such as Yogyakarta, Brebes Regency, Surabaya City, Wonosobo Regency, and currently in Palembang through the corporate social program initiative Dharma Dexa, ” explained Mr. Tarcisius.

Mr. Gunawan Lukman added, in accordance with Dexa Group’s core purpose “Expertise for the Promotion of Health” Dexa Group wants to continue to contribute to the health sector, especially through strategic government programs such as stunting reduction rates.

Mr. Sonny Himawan emphasized that the stunting reduction target is the implementation of one of the company’s core values. “To achieve the target of reducing stunting by 14 percent requires Pentahelix collaboration. Since 2022 Dexa Group and BKKBN have collaborated with more than 5,000 midwives in 6 regions to conduct stunting prevention education. We and the government are committed to reducing the stunting rate in Indonesia, this is in line with one of Dexa Group’s core values, namely Deal With Care,” said Head of Corporate Communications Dexa Group, Sonny Himawan.

As a company in the health sector, Dexa Group also plays a role in creating pharmaceutical product innovations that support stunting intervention efforts, one of which is through the HerbaAsimor product. This product was developed from Indonesia’s natural wealth which plays a role in helping to improve the quality and quantity of breast milk.

“Herba Asimor from katuk leaf extract, torbangun, and the active fraction of snakehead fish helps improve the quality and quantity of breast milk. Based on the results of research on consumers conducted by PT Dexa Medica, as many as 8 out of 10 breastfeeding mothers feel the benefits of HerbaAsimor,” explained Mr. Maret Yudianto.

Another innovation is in the field of technology, through the Teman Bumil application with around 3.7 million users in Indonesia since 2017. “This application facilitates midwives to easily provide education about stunting prevention to pregnant women through the collaboration with midwives,” said the Chief Operations Officer Ms. Ruth Retno Dewi.