SULTRAKINI.COM: WAKATOBI – Being the outermost island in Wakatobi Regency, Binongko became most underdeveloped area in the terms of well-being, infrastructure development and human resources (HR) compared to other surrounding islands.
Based on data on stunting cases in Wakatobi in 2020, there were two sub-districts on Binongko Island which contributed most for stunting case or failure to thrive in children under five due to chronic malnutrition so that children are shorter for their age.
There were about 334 stunting cases on Binongko Island which spread across Binongko districts such as 35 cases in Jaya Makmur Village, 36 cases in Lagongga Village, 30 cases in Wali Village and 39 cases in Makoro Village. Meanwhile, Togo Binongko District; in Waloindi Village 68 cases, Oihu 36 cases, Haka 26 cases, Popalia 36 cases, and Sowa 28 cases.
Tomia sub-district had 116 cases spread over 27 cases in Teemoane village, 33 cases in West Waitii, 15 cases in Waitii, 30 cases in Lamanggau, and 11 cases in Runduma. Meanwhile, in South Kaledupa Sub-district there were 48 cases spread across 16 cases in Tampara Village, 11 cases in Kasawari, and 21 cases in Peropa. And in the South Wangi-wangi Subdistrict, only 18 cases were found in Kabita Village.
Even so, stunting cases in Wakatobi are still very low when compared to the average number of stunting cases in Southeast Sulawesi and even nationally.
“The results of the 2018 Basic Health Research showed that the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia is 36, 4 percent. In Wakatobi island, the prevalence of stunting based on the results of monitoring nutritional status in 2017 was 26.3 percent.” said Head of the Wakatobi Health Service, Muliaddin, Tuesday (4/5/2021)
However, to deal with stunting in these 18 villages, the Wakatobi Regional Government has determined these villages to be the focus of stunting intervention.
However, in 2022, the council plans to add 10 villages/districts to be focused on reducing stunting cases. So that in 2022, there will be 28 regions that will be the focus of handling stunting.
Stunting is caused by multidimensional factors, such poor parenting practices, limited health services including quality antenatal, postnatal and early learning services, lack of access to nutritious food, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, so that the handling needs to be multi-sectoral or multi-sectoral or in a convergent manner.
By focusing on these 28 regions to stunting reduction interventions, Wakatobi Health Service invites all stakeholders to jointly plan activities for both specific and sensitive interventions in a convergence to produce an activity plan that is able to overcome the stunting problem in Wakatobi district.
Reporter: Amran Mustar Ode and Nurul Anggraini
Editor: Hasrul Tamrin
