Reducing stunting is crucial in realising health resilience as a strategic step towards the goal of a Golden Indonesia 2045

Jakarta, 2 February 2024 -The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Public Health Improvement and Health System Transformation followed by a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) on Synergy and Implementation of the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Programme. The cooperation, which aims to transform the public health system, confirms Kadin Indonesia's commitment to improving health resilience as one of the strategic steps to realise the ideals of the Golden Indonesia 2045.

The MoU was signed by the Director General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi, and the Acting Daily Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, at the Mochtar Riady Room, 29th Floor, Menara Kadin, Jakarta. The MoU signing was also witnessed by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

The scope of the MoU between Kadin Indonesia and the Ministry of Health includes accelerating the implementation of health system transformation, collaboration in efforts to accelerate stunting reduction, utilisation of health data and information; and other health fields.

Acting Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi emphasised that Kadin Indonesia is committed to encouraging the improvement of the quality of public health, especially in reducing the stunting rate in Indonesia. "In accordance with the vision of the Golden Indonesia 2045, Kadin Indonesia underlines that reducing stunting is very important in Indonesia, and is the key to social, economic and human resource development for the long term," he said.

Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin appreciated Kadin Indonesia's commitment in supporting the improvement of the public health system. "Health is an important component to help Indonesia become a developed country and get out of the middle income trap. Efforts to improve the quality of health, one of which starts from eradicating stunting for children to produce healthy and smart future generations. In realising this effort, inclusive collaboration is needed, one of which is through the involvement of Kadin Indonesia," said Budi Gunadi.

He hopes that with this agreement, the target of reducing stunting will be achieved. "We hope this MoU will strengthen the synergy and collaboration between the business world represented by Kadin Indonesia and the government, in this case the Ministry of Health, in realising the highest degree of public health," said Mr Gunadi.

Meanwhile, the scope of the PKS between Kadin Indonesia and the Ministry of Health includes program advocacy in accelerating stunting reduction, including communication, information and education (IEC) and socialisation of the accelerated stunting reduction program, increasing the capacity and competence of human resources in the accelerated stunting reduction program, community empowerment related to the accelerated stunting reduction program, and raising the Healthy Child Movement through the Together Entaskan Stunting (BERES) program.

This cooperation is carried out by applying the Pentahelix Model approach, which involves the collaboration of five elements, namely government, business, academia, community, and media in real action activities in mutual cooperation to accelerate stunting reduction.

According to the World Bank, Indonesia still has the 3rd highest stunting rate in ASEAN and is estimated to lose 2-3% of GDP per year due to stunting. Meanwhile, based on the Ministry of Health's records in the results of the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) at the BKKBN National Work Meeting last January, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia fell from 24.4% in 2021 to 21.6% in 2022.