UNS — As an effort to maintain the nutritional intake of the toddler, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta Student Community Service Program (KKN) in Batang and Tegal District conducted socialization and counseling on stunting. The event was held in the Kreyo Village Office hall, Wonotunggal Subdistrict, Batang District, last February.
In implementing the program, Team 16 KKN UNS collaborated with Puskesmas (public health center) Wonotunggal as counseling officers. To uns.ac.id, Team 16 leader, Rigita Cahyani stated that this event was held because of the ineffective Pos Pelayanan Terpadu (Posyandu)(village mother and children health post) in Kreyo village.
“Since the beginning of 2021, the (village) Posyandu is not effective because there was a change in village leadership. Before this (the Posyandu) actively conducted health care program but to this day, it is yet to be conducive again,” she stated on Monday (1/3/2021).
In the socialization attended by 50 housewives in Kreyo village, the team invited a midwife from Puskesmas Wonotunggal. Stunting is one of the reasons for stunted height in children, which makes them shorter than their fellow at the same age. “Lack of nutrient affects children growth and will be observable on toddler above five years old, who has smaller posture than their friends. Thus, nutritional fulfillment is vital for children. Parents need to understand what their children consumed,” Yamah, the midwife from Puskesmas Wonotunggal explained.
The stunting signs are slow growth, younger looks from children of the same age, lack of focus and learning memory, and acting quietly. Besides the socialization, Team 16 KKN UNS also distributed healthy food packages to the participants. Ninety packages of healthy foods were handed to the children.
Before concluding the interview, Rigita hopes that the program will improve community knowledge on stunting. “Hopefully, the community will understand better and realize the importance of nutrition fulfillment for children. Thus, they did not provide foods haphazardly and matched the portion with children’s age,” the Indonesian Language and Literature student hoped. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
