Nutrition Post Effectively Prevent Stunting
Nutrition Post activities have a positive impact on the fulfillment of toddler nutrition. By participating in the Nutrition Post in the village, mothers of toddlers gained new insights into the provision of complementary foods (MPASI) made from local products but still nutritionally balanced. Mothers of toddlers in rural areas can have a better understanding of the protein content in complementary food and the Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS) for children.
Amina Sari, a young mother who lives in a village in South Nias, initially did not know enough about how to prepare her child's food. Her daughter, Kaila, was already 6 months old. She had to receive additional nutrition besides breast milk. In addition, Amina also felt that her husband, who works as a farmer, did not earn much.
Amina's limitations do not discourage her. "My husband's income is only enough for the family's needs. But I am very enthusiastic about providing food by paying attention to the processing pattern. I want my child to be able to eat, so that my child stays healthy and can gain weight every month," says Amina. It is this enthusiasm that makes Amina actively participate in Nutrition Post activities held in the village.
In addition to taking care of her child who is ready to enter the MPASI stage, Amina is also pregnant with Kaila's younger sister. She is already in her 6th month of pregnancy. The insights she received from the Nutrition Post can be applied to maintain her nutritional intake as a pregnant mother. Because one of the ways to prevent toddlers from stunting starts in the womb. Pregnant women must consume foods with adequate and balanced nutritional intake so that the baby in the womb grows healthy and avoids the risk of stunting.
In the Nutrition Post activities, Amina learned how to cook well and correctly by paying attention to how to process food suitable to the age of the child. Amina also became more adept at managing local food ingredients that turned out to be good for her child's complementary food. "This is very good, as evidenced by my child's weight increase every month. In addition, I also consume good food from local ingredients for the health of my child in the womb so that when he/she is born my child is healthy and avoids stunting," she said.
Amina and her family are also working on a family nutrition garden. In collaboration with WVI and Lembaga Obor Berkat, Amina's family manages a vegetable garden and catfish farm. "When I harvest, I can feed my family with catfish and vegetables," Amina concluded.
Writer: Fetisa Ndruru (Lembaga Obor Berkat staff)
Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)
