Stunting, as a serious issue in physical growth and child development, remains a major concern in major cities in Indonesia, including Depok. The Depok city government has made various efforts to address the issue of stunting, but public awareness and participation are also crucial in tackling this problem.
One concrete step in preventing stunting in Depok is through community service by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) at the Universitas Indonesia (UI), in collaboration with religious leaders from Sukamaju Village, Cilodong Subdistrict, Depok City, on August 22, 2022. The program, aimed at increasing stunting literacy among religious leaders in Depok, was held at the Sukamaju Village Office.
The literacy enhancement program involved 22 religious leaders with the goal of improving their understanding of stunting, its impacts, causes, prevention methods, and ways to address stunting. The head of the community service team, Dr. Ir. Asih Setiarini, M.Sc., explained the importance of the role of religious leaders in disseminating information and educating the public about stunting. “Increasing the understanding of stunting in toddlers among religious leaders is very important, as it can be used as material for religious sermons and passed on to the community,” said Dr. Asih.
Responding to this activity, Drs. Zainal Arifin, M.Si., the Head of Cilodong Subdistrict, expressed high appreciation for the efforts of FPH UI in providing health guidance and spreading positive information in the subdistricts of Cilodong. Zainal expressed his hope that government programs could continue, one of which is through the participation of community leaders, such as religious leaders, in addressing stunting. His hope is that stunting rates can continue to decrease and eventually reach zero stunting in the area.
Sukamaju Village Head, Indra Cahyadi, S.H., M.A., also responded positively to this community service activity. Indra expressed his thanks and appreciation to FPH UI for the guidance program carried out, especially in Sukamaju Village, which is one of the areas with a relatively high prevalence of stunting. According to Indra Cahyadi, this activity is a very good momentum in Sukamaju Village, where religious leaders who have received education can pass on their knowledge to the community. In addressing the issue of stunting, the Sukamaju Village Head emphasized the importance of synergy between various community elements such as academics, business people, the media, and society as a whole. “With support from all parties, efforts to reduce stunting can continue. I hope this effort will have a positive impact and gradually reduce the stunting rate in Depok City,” concluded Indra Cahyadi.