Image : Global Family Forum was supported by many representative countries
Indonesia and several countries that incorporated the South-South Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) share best practices regarding reproductive health and stunting reduction on Tuesday 16 November 2021 at Westin Hotel, Jakarta. A total of 17 Ambassadors to Indonesia namely Tunisia, Mozambique, Japan, Netherland, Canada, Finland, Philippine, Denmark, Côte d’Ivoire, Fiji, Gambia, Iceland, Liberia, Lebanon, Panama, Romania, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Indonesian Ambassador to the 17 countries attended this event through online and offline.
“In recent years, developing countries are facing many challenges that affect the health and nutritional status of mothers and children under five years as well as high mortality rate. Yet, many developing countries have implemented various best practices to overcome these problems. The Best practices are taken by some of the potential local natural resources that are cheap and easy to obtain. One of the efforts to prevent infant and under-five mortality due to malnutrition (including stunting) is to provide exclusive breastfeeding” said Deputy for Training, Research, and Development of BKKBN, Prof. Rizal M Damanik, Ph.D. represented The Chairman of BKKBN, Dr. (HC), dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp.OG (K) in his remarks.
On the same occasion, in his presentation, Damanik said that many types of research shown exclusive breastfeeding could prevent stunting significantly. Children who did not get exclusive breastfeeding are 3 times more at risk of stunting rather than those who get exclusive breastfeeding. Meanwhile, many mothers are facing obstacles to giving exclusive breastfeeding to their babies as a reason for declining exclusive breastfeeding production. Damanik had researched the use of local Indonesian herbal plants that are proven to stimulate breastmilk namely Torbangun Leaves that are rich in vitamin C and also be used as an immune booster.
Executive Director of Philippines Population Commission, Mr. Juan Antonio Perez III also explained that several collaborations between Indonesia and the Philippines such as a public lecture on family planning in the Islamic context and advocacy strategies are followed by Philippines religious leaders, sharing best practices on adolescent health reproductive to young leaders, sharing experiences regarding family planning program during decentralization period in Indonesia.
The chairman of BKKBN added that three aims of Sustainable Development Goals should be fulfilled regarding the reproductive health problems and stunting in 2030 such as:
- SDGs number 2.2 is to end all forms of malnutrition, including stunting target achievement on children under 5 years of age, and nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
- SDGs number 3.2 is ending preventable deaths of newborns and children rate to new under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as12 per 1000 live births, and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1000 live births.
- SDGs number 5.6 is to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed by the program of Action of the ICPD and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
The Global Family Forum on Best Practices In Reproductive Health And Stunting Reduction” event was opened by Regional Director of Asia Pacific Regional Office of UNFPA, Mr. Bjorn Andersson, UNFPA Representative to Indonesia, Ms. Anjali Sen, and Director for Socio-Cultural Affairs and International Organization of Developing Countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mrs. Penny Dewi Hersati. In Addition, the President of Republic Seychelles to ASEAN, Mr Niko Barito gave presentation regarding Sharing on Healthy Environment, Prosperous Families. This event was also live on Pulin BKKBN Youtube.