High Stunting Rates in Indonesia: Human Initiative Invites Communities to Collaborate by Spreading Sacrifice in Remote Areas of the Country
9 June 2023
Depok, West Java – The low level of meat consumption is one of the reasons for the increasing stunting rate in the world. Therefore, through the Spread of Qurban program, Human Initiative is introducing the distribution of benefits in nine areas, seven of which have a high prevalence of stunting cases exceeding the national rate.
There is an important fact that prospective Qurban participants need to know about this year’s Human Initiative Spread the Qurban. The Type A Qurban involves sacrificing 1/7 of a cow weighing around 200 kg, intended for beneficiaries in nine areas with varying conditions. These areas include Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Maluku, as well as Somalia, Uganda, and Kenya for overseas distribution.
Why distribute in these areas? With the exception of Gorontalo and North Sulawesi, all of these regions have high recorded stunting cases. The stunting prevalence rate in these four Indonesian regions is over 26 percent, while in Africa, it exceeds 30 percent. This data is a major concern for the Human Initiative, driving their implementation of the Spread of Qurban program in 2023.
Low levels of meat consumption contribute to the problem. During a press conference for the 63rd National Nutrition Day in Jakarta (20/1), Ni Made Diah, the Acting Director of Nutrition and Maternal and Child Health (KIA) at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, stated that the main causes of nutritional problems are inadequate nutritional intake and recurrent infections. These issues are closely related to the limited consumption of animal protein among certain individuals.
In fact, a study conducted by Headey et al. (2018) indicates a strong relationship between stunting and the consumption of animal foods in toddlers aged 6-23 months. The research also suggests that consuming food from multiple animal protein sources is more beneficial for the human body.
In Indonesia, the 2022 National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas) reveals relatively low levels of animal protein consumption. The reported intake includes fish/shrimp/squid/shellfish at only 9.58 grams, meat at 4.79 grams, and eggs and milk at 3.37 grams.
These conditions are reflected in the data from the 2022 National Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI), which shows a stunting prevalence of 21.6 percent in Indonesia. This figure is still relatively high compared to the WHO standard of below 20 percent.
Africa also faces similar challenges. According to globalnutritionreport.org, the prevalence of stunting on the African continent is 30.7 percent, surpassing the global average of 22.0 percent.
Worthful Qurban Right on Target
Miftahul Surur, Leader of the Human Initiative Qurban Squad, acknowledges that high stunting cases are rooted in poor living conditions, resulting in low meat consumption. Therefore, Human Initiative determines the beneficiary areas for Qurban distribution based on four criteria. The data from the 2022 National Central Statistics Agency (BPS) will be used to determine these areas.
“We determine the distribution areas for Qurban based on five criteria. First, areas with stunting rates which higher than the national prevalence rate. Second, the 3T regions (underdeveloped, outermost, frontier). Third, areas with a high number of underprivileged people. Fourth, regions with low meat consumption rates. And finally, vulnerable and marginalized groups, especially people with disabilities,” said Miftahul Surur.
Human Initiative sets these criteria and determines the distribution locations of the benefits for the Type A Qurban to ensure equal distribution. Their aim is not only to facilitate individuals who want to perform the qurban worship but also to make it easier for them to share the delicious qurban meat in Central and East Indonesia, as well as Africa, particularly in areas with high stunting rates.
“Indeed, Qurban distribution occurs only once a year. That is why, through this great opportunity, we would like to invite the public to join us in making efforts and contributing together to support the stunting program in Indonesia through the Spread of Qurban program,” concluded Surur.
Source:
- “Protein Animal Effective Prevent Anak Alami Stunting.” Sehat Negeriku. Retrieved from https://sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id/baca/umum/20230121/1542263/protein- Animal-Effective-Prevent-anak-alami-stunting/
- “Nutrition Profiles: Africa.” Global Nutrition Report. Retrieved from https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/africa/
