Status: Ongoing, since 2022
STUNTING PREVENTION
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Nutritional challenges in Indonesia remain a significant concern, deeply affecting human development. Malnutrition contributes to issues like stunting and wasting in young children, and anemia and chronic energy deficiency (CED) in pregnant women. These conditions often lead to low birth weight (LBW) in newborns and persistent malnutrition in toddlers. Direct causes of malnutrition include inadequate food intake and infectious diseases.
Stunting, a consequence of chronic malnutrition, results in children being
underweight and shorter than their peers. This condition is most prevalent
in children under five and has serious implications for their future health.
The first 1,000 days of life—encompassing pregnancy and the first two
years—are crucial, as inadequate nutrition during this period can lead to
lifelong consequences, including increased morbidity and mortality,
cognitive and motor development issues, and impaired mental health.
Failure to address stunting during this critical window often results in
lasting effects, including stunted growth into adolescence. To effectively
combat stunting, interventions must begin before birth and ideally involve
addressing maternal nutrition and health from adolescence onward.
Family involvement is essential in improving child growth and development.
Empowering families with knowledge about proper nutrition and how to
provide it is crucial. Nutritional status in children is assessed based on
their physical needs for energy and nutrients, which are evaluated using
anthropometric measurements and WHO standards. Nutritional problems
typically arise from an imbalance between nutrient intake and expenditure,
often compounded by poor food choices.
Addressing these issues requires a holistic approach that includes education, family support, and targeted nutritional interventions to ensure healthier outcomes for children and break the cycle of malnutrition.​
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OBJECTIVES
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The aims of this project program are:
(1) Fulfillment of nutritional intake for toddlers
(2) Improving the nutritional status of stunted toddlers
(3) Improved healthy sanitation for families of stunted toddlers
LOCATION & FOCUS
LOCATIONS: North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
FOCUSES:
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WASTE CLEANUP & MANAGEMENT
Unsanitary conditions can lead to infections and other health issues that contribute to stunting by impairing nutrient absorption and overall growth in children. -
INCREASE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS (PAUD) AND TEACHERS
Proper education and understanding are important to increase parents knowledge, attitudes and skills for handling toddlers and pregnant women regarding PHBS, balanced nutrition, etc. -
NUTRITION CLASSES IN SCHOOLS
To improve primary school children's understanding about nutrition, health, and proper diets. -
IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY
A cause of poor nutrition can be caused not by lack of knowledge but of food security, creating vegetable gardens and can combat this. -
WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS
Workshops and meetings allow for the free flow of ideas creating a safer space to voice opinions or questions as well as allowing for sharing and relationships to occur. -
GENERAL MONITORING & EVALUATION
To maintain these projects it is imperative to monitor and evaluate until the program is able to self-reliant with knowledge and resources being shared amongst the participants and the wider community.
This project is supported by :
