REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- Unsustainable development could cause malnutrition problems that could affect related factors to perpetuate negative impact on national development, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the World Food Day event.
"At present, almost 870 million people suffer from chronic malnutrition due to unsustainable development. It can be said that among every 10 people, one person cannot sleep soundly because of hunger," he stated here on Thursday.
He stressed that sustainable development and environmentally friendly development must be prioritized.
"Development systems that destroy the environment and biodiversity must be stopped to reduce the problem of malnutrition," he remarked.
He also emphasized the importance of providing a clean water supply, good sanitation, and family planning services as well as education for girls and women.
"Thank God, on June 16, 2013, Indonesia received an award from the Foof and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to mark our success in drastically reducing the hunger rate, which is in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) programs," he added.
The government has issued Presidential Regulation No. 42/2013 to improve the quality of nutrition among Indonesian children, especially during their first 2.7 years of of life.
The nutrition improvement program must be implemented successfully, he stated.