Mataram, University of Mataram – The Research and Community Service Institute of the University of Mataram (LPPM Unram) received a visit from the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) of West Nusa Tenggara Province in the context of strengthening cooperation between government agencies and universities related to handling stunting through the intervention of Real Work Lecture students on Thursday (3/21) in the meeting room of the Head of LPPM University of Mataram.

On this occasion, the Head of LPPM Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. was present, accompanied by the Head of KKN and Cooperation Center Dr. Ir. Misbahuddin, ST, MT, IPU, Secretary of KKN Management, Dr. Ni Wayan Sri Suliartini, SP, MP. In addition, from the NTB Provincial BKKBN, the Head of the NTB Provincial BKKBN Dalduk Team, Drs. Samaan, M.Si. was always accompanied by Sanusi, S. Sos.
In order to optimize the prevention and reduction of stunting, BKKBN implements cross-sector collaboration as an effort to accelerate stunting reduction. Universities have a very important and strategic role in helping to overcome the stunting problem that occurs in Indonesia. “The role of universities is very important and strategic, because our nation is still listed as part of the stunting region, the NTB stunting rate reached 24% in 2023, while the target of reducing Indonesia’s stunting rate in 2024 is 14%. There are 4 regions with the highest stunting rates, one of which is NTB. The cooperation of various parties is needed to reduce the stunting rate by 10%”

Drs. Samaan, M.Si. as the Head of the Dalduk Team in his remarks revealed “This collaboration is a concrete step in the implementation of Presidential Regulation No. 72 of 2021 concerning the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction. Samaan underlined the importance of involving various sectors including academics in handling stunting in NTB.

Higher education helps the government to provide assistance to families at risk of stunting, so that mothers can give birth to healthy babies through community service as part of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. Based on Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021 as a derivative guideline in the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction (RAN PASTI), one of the roles of higher education is to participate in helping the community, especially in fulfilling healthy, diverse and balanced nutrition.

In the context of efforts to provide assistance to families at risk of stunting, BKKBN and the University of Mataram collaborate with the concept of Students Care for Stunting, which is one of the Community Service Programs through the Real Work Lecture (KKN) approach to Village Community Empowerment to support the acceleration of stunting reduction through the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. as the Head of LPPM in his speech welcomed this collaboration.

“LPPM really welcomes the collaboration with BKKBN related to reducing stunting as a form of community service. God willing, we can run this collaboration this year through the Community Service Program (KKN), both regular and MBKM. We are ready to work together to be involved in efforts to deal with stunting problems because we have strong and competent human resources and several faculties,” said Prof. Sukartono.

Students have the potential to educate the community as well as apply knowledge in empowering the community. This was confirmed by the Head of KKN and Cooperation Center Dr. Ir. Misbahuddin, ST, MT, IPU.

“In connection with Thematic KKN (PMD) and MBKM Students Care for Stunting, we will map out which locations are targeted and this becomes a locus when we send students who care about stunting to districts / cities where the stunting rate is quite high. In connection with this, in the implementation process, students will be given briefings both on substance material and mechanisms in the field, “explained Dr. Misbah.

The collaboration between BKKBN and Unram is a form of Unram’s commitment through the KKN Program to actively contribute to the acceleration of current stunting reduction efforts with the concept of a family assistance approach, especially in families at risk of stunting.