Health Minister suggests routine infant weighing to prevent stunting

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin reminded parents of the importance of routinely coming to nearby integrated health service post (posyandu) to monitor the weight of their children as an effort to prevent stunting.

He noted that parents must periodically weigh their infants while emphasizing the need to bring them to a health community center (puskesmas) for medical examination if their kids do not show improvements in terms of weight and height.

"It is necessary to bring your children to puskesmas if they do not gain weight and height," he told parents during the commemorative event of the National Nutrition Day in Jakarta on Sunday.

Sadikin explained that at a puskesmas, parents can meet with relevant doctors and nutrition experts to consult on measures and food for increasing their children's weight and height.

"Do not forget to provide your children with food containing animal proteins that can be absorbed straight away by their bodies," he noted.

The minister suggested that parents feed their children with fish, as they contain complete sets of nutrition that can help infants with their growth. He added that micronutrients found in fish can stimulate the growth and development of children's brains.

He then stressed that Indonesia is a maritime country whose 70 percent of its territories are covered by waters, thereby making it easier for parents in the country to obtain animal proteins from fish.

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Sadikin advised Indonesian parents to breastfeed their infants and feed them with local nutritious types of fish that can help prevent stunting, such as anchovies, tuna, mackerel, as well as catfishes.

"We need to ensure a sufficient supply of nutrition for our children," he concluded.