REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATANG -- Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said that 5.4 million Indonesian children below five years are suffering from poor nourishment.

"Poor nourishment affected the children's growth physically and intellectually while we are to prepare a golden generation that children below five years should have good nourishment," Khofifah said here on Sunday.

She said if a baby was born with poor nourishment it is most likely there will be imbalance in its physical and intellectual growth.

"In order to cope with poor nurition, the social affairs ministry has program called 'Family of Hope Program'(PKH) for 8 percent of low income people.

A pregnant woman would receive Rp1 million to improve her nutrition to ensure that the baby would born with normal weight, she said.

Regent of Batang Yoyok Riyo Sudibyo said the district administration already carried out a program to improve nutrition including nutrition education, nutrition supplement, etc.

"We do this all from the lowest level of health care in 'posyandu to hospitals. Health services are also offered in forums such as PK," Yoyok said.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said 20 million Indonesians go to bed hungry every night.

Indonesia is still facing an uphill battle against malnutrition especially among children under 5 years in age, the FAO said in a over view of food security in Asia and Pacific.

The most recent data from 2013, shows the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 years in Indonesia is close to 37 percent , the FAO said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika