JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government encourages the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction (TPPS) to reduce the number of growth barriers for children. This team will be maximized at the provincial, district and city levels to villages and sub-districts.

According to the Acting Head of the Papua Health Office, Ari Pontiku, the organization of the acceleration of stunting reduction through TPPS needs to be boosted, so there is synergy and evaluation in the implementation and acceleration of stunting reduction.

"TPPS is a forum for the implementation of cross-sector convergence actions that are tasked with carrying out convergence, work and conciliation of central, regional and village programs, as well as the role of stakeholders."

"Of course, to reduce the stunting rate, several interventions will be carried out together, namely through the improvement of health facilities," he said in Jayapura on Monday.

In addition, he continued, his agency is also intensively increasing collaboration with the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) to reduce stunting rates, where the stunting prevalence rate has touched 28.6 percent in 2023. 

"It is known that the target of stunting prevalence nationally in 2024 is 14 percent, which by looking at the high prevalence of stunting in Papua Province, it is hoped that it can be a common concern."

"Therefore, this is not only the task of one agency but how the Penta helix collaboration can be carried out by every cross-sector and stakeholder within the scope of the Papua Provincial Government," he said.

On that occasion, he encouraged stunting interventions that were carried out by utilizing existing local wisdom.

Thus, in providing Supplementary Food (PTM), it is possible to take advantage of existing natural resources.

"Because in addition to being easy to get, the existing village budget can be used to finance the provision of additional food for children in each village," he said. ***