RIAU ISLANDS — Dompet Dhuafa Riau Islands Branch distributed nutritious food packages for Belakang Padang District, Batam City, on Wednesday (15/3/2023). The package’s handover was symbolised at the Puskesmas Belakang Padang, Penawar Rindu Island, attended by the Head of the Puskesmas, the District Government, and also the cadres of the posyandu.
This program is a continuation of the Healthy Island Child Nutrition Maintenance or Jaga Gizi Anak Pulau Sehat program which has been going on since July 2022 by Dompet Dhuafa Kepri.
The contents of the food package are by the recommendations of nutritionists at the Rear Padang Health Center which are also adjusted to the case and age of each toddler. So, each beneficiary gets a different package filling. Among the packets were eggs, milk powder, biscuits, seaweed gelatin, mung beans, and rice.
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According to Kapus Syamsul Rizal, Belakang Padang District is one of the areas that experiences a high stunting prevalence rate in Batam. For that, he is very grateful to the donors of Dompet Dhuafa who also care about the nutritional condition of children in their environment.
He also advised his citizens, especially the beneficiaries, to pay attention to children’s diet and parenting.
“To mothers whose children are indicated to be malnourished and poor, hopefully in the future their children’s health will be much better, and try to educate them by the correct parenting style according to their age,” he said.
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In this region, most people’s jobs are fishing and trading. Not infrequently, busyness makes them negligent in paying attention to the parenting and diet of their children.
In addition, Dompet Dhuafa Riau Islands Program Manager, Muhammad Izzuddin Al Hafizh said, “Hopefully this will be a door for collaboration for all parties to jointly solve the problem of stunting both in Belakang Padang District, in Batam, and nationally.”
Dompet Dhuafa’s efforts received appreciation from Belakang Padang District. Muhammad Yamin, representing the sub-district head, said that the problem of nutrition (stunting) had become a national issue. The sub-district is very grateful to Dompet Dhuafa and the Puskesmas Kecamatan Belakang Padang who have helped solve the stunting problem.
“The sub-district is ready to support and facilitate, contribute thoughts, and budget for stunting resolution programs,” he said encouragingly.
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Dompet Dhuafa also visited one of the beneficiaries of this program. The team visited Yolanda Putri Febriani’s house in Java Village, RT 01 RW 01, Sekanak Raya Village, Belakang Padang District. Her son, Chayra Yofizia, is 1 year and 9 months old. At that time, Ananda Chayra experienced growth inhibition. However, he can almost catch up with his current age’s ideal growth and development rate.
He admitted receiving assistance from the Healthy Island Child Nutrition Guard program in July 2022.
“Thank you, Dompet Dhuafa and the donors who care about us. Now my son wants to pursue growth,” he told Dompet Dhuafa, entrusting one of the donors to the donor. (Dompet Dhuafa/Muthohar)