BKKBN integrates population policies with National Nutrition Program

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) is integrating population policies with the National Nutrition Improvement Program.

"The population data utilization can be used as a basis for formulating nutrition policies. We are committed to optimizing field personnel, such as Family Planning Counselors (PKB) and Family Assistance Teams (TPK) in the distribution and education related to nutrition," BKKBN head Wihaji noted in a statement from his office on Friday.

Wihaji made the statement during a meeting with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head on Thursday.

"The integration between population programs, such as birth control and family planning, is related to the community nutrition improvement program. From family data collection, we found 75 million families recorded, with 8.6 million at risk of stunting," Wihaji stated.

He then emphasized the importance of various strategies to integrate population policies with the National Nutrition Improvement Program and strengthen cross-sector cooperation to reduce stunting rates and improve the quality of Indonesia's human resources.

Meanwhile, BGN head Dadan Hindayana said his side shared similar programs with BKKBN by sending food to the people on a daily basis.

"We are working with integrated health posts and PKK cadres," he remarked.

Currently, his side is prioritizing the provision of free nutritious meals for school children at 150 locations across Indonesia.

"We have deployed 300 people throughout Indonesia at 150 points. We place one service unit that surrounds schools (for food distribution)," he remarked.

Hindayana explained that the service units are spread across the regions designed to handle the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meal Program in a structured manner to various target groups.

Furthermore, the meeting produced several strategic plans to address the nutritional challenges in Indonesia, including strengthening education for young families on the importance of nutritional intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as the prioritized program to increase access to nutritious food through collaboration with various parties.