JAKARTA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian Ministry of Health is optimistic that the country's stunting prevalence rate will decline to 5 percent by 2045, an official said on Thursday.
The optimism stems from the ministry's success in reducing the stunting prevalence rate last year, which exceeded the target, according to Asnawi Abdullah, head of the ministry's Development Policy Agency (BKPK).
He noted that the prevalence rate in 2024 dropped to 19.8 percent, surpassing the target of 20.1 percent.
"We hope this trend will continue to improve in the coming years," he said during an online media meeting.
Abdullah explained that the 19.8 percent figure means the government has successfully reduced the number of stunted toddlers by 357,705.
"We are on track to achieve the 5 percent target," he said, referring to the 2045 goal.
To reach this objective, the official said the government must reduce the number of new stunting cases by 325,000 each year.
Abdullah also revealed that 12 provinces have recorded stunting prevalence rates lower than the national average of 19.8 percent. These include Bali Province (8.7 percent), followed by East Java Province, Riau Islands Province, and others. ■
