Raising the issue of stunting, a group of students from the Regular Bachelor of Public Health study program, Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) formed an innovative early stunting prevention activity which will be implemented during August 2023. The innovation is called Duta TEMANI, which was pioneered by Group 1 Depok City area in Field Learning Experience courses 1 and 2 in 2023. Group 1 which is under the guidance of Dra. Caroline Endah Wuryaningsih, M.Kes., consists of Asti Annisa Utami (Health Administration and Policy), Nindia Ayu Santoso (Epidemiology), Karina Kinstania Yumna Artanti (Epidemiology), Reihan Zulkarnaen (Epidemiology), Phenta Chrisna Nugraha (Epidemiology), Abellia Auriel Ashilah (Epidemiology), Khaerul Nisa (Health Promotion), Ayasha Naila Ismunandar (Biostatistics), Rany Kamilla Yulianti (Biostatistics), and Astried Anggraeni Mirza (Biostatistics).
Duta TEMANI (Friends of Anti-Anemia) is an innovation program carried out by FPH UI students together with UPTD Puskesmas Mekarsari to empower female students at SMP Negeri 7 Depok in distributing, recording, and monitoring the consumption of blood supplement tablets (TTD). The Duta TEMANI Program is a manifestation of FPH UI’s commitment together with UPTD Puskesmas Mekarsari to achieve Zero New Stunting by 2030.
Duta TEMANI consisted of 31 female students who were selected based on the level of knowledge possessed by the students of SMP Negeri 7 Depok regarding anemia and TTD. Each TEMANI Ambassador is assigned to accompany one from each existing class (grades 7, 8 and 9) in the TTD drinking activity together.
In its implementation, the TEMANI Ambassadors were led by the program coordinator, who was a student at SMPN 7 Depok, namely Samuel Tori Isaiah Huwae from class IX. TEMANI Coordinators and Ambassadors are tasked with drinking TTD together in each class which is held regularly every week. They are also assisted by teachers from student affairs, OSIS, PMR (Youth Red Cross) extracurricular supervisors, and teachers.
During the activity, Duta TEMANI received training on the correct way to drink TTD (online and offline) and discussed with the UKS and UPTD of the Mekarsari Community Health Center regarding how to fill out the TTD report card. The implementation of Duta TEMANI is also supported by the distribution of guide booklets (printed and digital versions), appreciation certificates and Duta TEMANI pins. The Duta TEMANI Program is carried out every Friday with teacher assistance and reporting will be carried out by the teacher to the Mekarsari Health Center UPTD via the Whatsapp group platform. Through the Duta TEMANI program, it is hoped that it can raise awareness of the importance of TTD consumption as a step to prevent anemia and can increase the capacity of female students at SMP Negeri 7 Depok to carry out monitoring activities on TTD consumption. (Reihan Zulkarnaen)