Stunting Rate Reaches 34,9%, Dexa Medica Collaborates with BKKBN in Educating Hundreds of Midwives in Jember

In the 2024 State Budget and Revenue (APBN), President Joko Widodo allocated IDR 186.4 trillion or 5.6 percent for the health sector. One of the primary goals is to reduce the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia to 14 percent by 2024.

To accelerate the stunting reduction target of 14 percent by 2024, Dexa Medica collaborated with the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) to hold am Education and Stunting Intervention for Midviwes program on Friday, October 27, 2023, in Jember Regency, East Java Province.

The event was attended by Mrs. Dr. Ir. Dwi Listyawardani, Head of the Jember District Health Service, and Dr. Hendro Soelistijono, Chair of the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) East Java, attended the event. Mrs. Lestari, Executive Director of the Situbondo District Health Service Mr. Sandy Hendrayono, Dexa Group Corporate Affairs Director Mr. Tarcisius Tanto Randy, Prof. Raymond Tjandrawinata, Executive Director of Dexa Laboratories of Biomolecular Sciences (DLBS), and Marketing and Sales Director of CHD Dexa Medica Mr Maret Yudianto, as well as hundreds of midwives from the Indonesian Midwives Association in Jember Regency were also present.

Mrs. Dwi Listyawardani said that stunting is a serious concern. Inadequate dietary intake causes stunting, and recurring illnesses can occur during the first 1,000 days of life (HPK).

“Stunting endangers the quality of the next generation.” Not only does it affect physical development, but it also alters brain development, affecting talents and successes at school, as well as productivity and creativity at productive ages,” said Mrs. Dwi Listyawardani.

Stunting is still prevalent in Besuki Village, which includes Banyuwangi, Bondowoso, Jember, and Situbondo Regencies, as well as Lumajang and Probolinggo. “The problem in East Java is primarily due to early marriage. The figure is above 50 percent,” stated Mrs. Dwi Listyawardani.

Mrs. Lestari, Chair of East Java IBI, stated that IBI together with 38,698 midwives throughout Indonesia, is dedicated to reducing stunting rates and achieving the target of 14 percent stunting by 2024.

Maximizing the roles of midwives is one of the duties of midwives in lowering stunting rates not just in Jember, but also nationally. “We always contribute to stunting intervention. We constantly help women who are expecting whose risks are substantial. We also ensure that we already have records for pregnancy tests for high-risk individuals. Not only that, as a measure to reduce stunting, we also provide educational outreach,” she said.

According to Dr. Hendro Soelistijono, Head of the Jember District Health Service, the incidence of stunting in Jember Regency in 2022 was 34.9%, the highest in East Java province, according to data from the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI).

“I hope that we can reduce stunting cases in Jember Regency so that they can reach the target of 14% in 2024,” he added.

On the same occasion, Mr. Sandy Hendrayono, the Head of the Situbondo Regency Health Service, claimed that his party was working on lowering stunting rates in Situbondo Regency in 20 communities in the Situbondo region.

“One of the initiatives we are making is to create an environment that supports breastfeeding in rural areas by innovating breastfeeding support groups. There are 48 groups established whose mission is to prevent stunting through the consumption of breast milk. Another initiative to increase exclusive breastfeeding, we use ASIMOR supplements,” Mr. Sandy stated.

Prof. Raymond Tjandrawinata, Executive Director of DLBS, also gave his insight about the raw material for Indonesia Indigenous Modern Medicine (OMAI), HerbaAsimor, which may help enhance the quantity and quality of breast milk. The essential raw materials are from Indonesia, specifically katuk leaves, torbangun leaves, and snakehead fish.

“We understand that many pregnant women in Indonesia face difficulty producing breast milk or have a low volume, so we look for natural Indonesian ingredients that can increase not only the volume of breast milk but also the quality of breast milk.” HerbaAsimor consists of torbangun leaves, katuk leaf extract, and snakehead fish extract. This is the medical use of Indonesia’s natural biodiversity.” Prof. Raymond emphasized.

Dexa Group’s Contribution to Stunting Reduction

Mr. Tarcisius Tanto Randy, Corporate Affairs Director of Dexa Group, stated that Dexa Group helps to overcome stunting by educating midwives in Jember Regency in collaboration with BKKBN, the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkompinda), and the Indonesian Midwives Association.

“Jember is not alone in attempting to reducing the stuntnig prevalence. Based on our experience, we at the Dexa Group also support the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Program following the company’s foundation “Expertise for the Promotion of Health,” according to Mr. Tarcisius.

Mr Sonny Himawan, Head of Corporate Communications Dexa Group, highlighted that the stunting reduction target is the implementation of one of the company’s fundamental principles of dealing with care. “Reducing stunting to 14 percent by 2024 requires pentahelix collaboration. Since 2022, Dexa Group and BKKBN have collaborated with over 7,000 midwives in eight regions to deliver stunting prevention education”.

Dexa Group, as a health-care company, also contributes to pharmaceutical product inventions that aid in stunting intervention efforts, such as the HerbaAsimor product. The development of this product is using Indonesia’s natural resources, and it helps to increase the quality and quantity of breast milk.

“HerbaAsimor from extracts of katuk leaves, torbangun leaves, and active fractions of snakehead fish help improve the quality and quantity of breast milk. According to the findings of PT Dexa Medica’s consumer study, as many as 8 out of 10 nursing women felt the benefits of HerbaAsimor,” Mr Maret Yudianto remarked.

Another technological breakthrough is the Teman Bumil application, which has 3.7 million users in Indonesia since 2017. Through collaboration with midwives, this application enables midwives to quickly provide education about preventing stunting to pregnant women,” stated Mrs. Ruth Retno Dewi, Chief Operations Officer.