Nearly a Quarter of Infants in West Kalimantan Are Malnourished

Nearly a quarter of babies in West Kalimantan suffer from malnutrition. A 2016 nutritional status monitoring conducted by the Ministry of Health showed that 24.5 percent of infants in the province with Pontianak as its capital experienced malnutrition. This figure comprises 6.6 percent suffering from severe malnutrition and 17.9 percent suffering from moderate malnutrition. This is the highest rate among all provinces.

Meanwhile, Bali had the lowest rate of malnourished infants, at only 5.7 percent. This comprises 0.5 percent suffering from severe malnutrition and 5.2 percent suffering from moderate malnutrition. Nationally, 14.9 percent of infants experienced malnutrition, with 3.1 percent suffering from severe malnutrition and 11.8 percent suffering from moderate malnutrition.

To ensure Indonesian babies grow into healthy and intelligent children, adequate nutrition is needed from the earliest age. Even while still in the womb, babies require sufficient nutritional intake. The first 1,000 days of life (HPK), from conception (270 days) to age two (730 days), is the most crucial period for a child's development. Sadly, many Indonesian babies still suffer from malnutrition during this 1,000-day period.