The Faculty of Medicine (FK) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) conducted a community service program under the Muhammadiyah Association for Medical and Health Education (APKKM).
Funded by an APKKM grant, the activity organized stunting prevention education at the Kalijambe Community Health Center in Sragen Regency, Central Java. The event featured two speakers from FK UMS: dr. Restu Triwulandani Tolibin, Sp.A., and dr. Nining Lestari, M.P.H., FISPH., FISCM.
“The target of our activity is village cadres and healthcare workers in primary healthcare services,” Restu explained when contacted on Friday (2/1/2026).
Restu also explained to participants what stunting is and its causes. According to her, stunting is a condition of growth failure caused by chronic malnutrition. Prevention must be carried out early by monitoring growth and detecting early signs of slowed weight gain in infants.
She emphasized that Kalijambe District is expected to reduce the stunting rate among children under five to below 10 percent. “The active role of cadres and healthcare workers is crucial in providing nutrition education to families and toddlers,” she added.
Restu revealed that the stunting rate in Kalijambe District in 2025 ranged between 10–13 percent. “As of last November, it was 11 percent, or around 308 children,” she added.
On the same occasion, Nining Lestari stressed the importance of preventing stunting during the first 1,000 days of life. This period must be filled with improved maternal and child nutrition, breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding, as well as supplementary foods based on local ingredients.
FK UMS lecturers posed for a photo with village cadres and healthcare workers at the Kalijambe Community Health Center, Sragen, Central Java, December 23, 2025. Private doc.
“The introduction of local foods is an effort for educational and nutritional intervention for infants,” said Nining.
Nining stated that eradicating stunting is not easy. Limited access to adequate and balanced nutrition, lack of education and awareness about nutrition, limited access to healthcare services, as well as sanitation and environmental hygiene issues remain significant challenges in preventing stunting.
Comprehensive and coordinated efforts are needed from various parties, including the government, non-governmental organizations, and the community. “With education and active community participation, it is hoped that stunting rates can be reduced and Indonesian children can grow healthy and develop optimally,” Nining said optimistically.
The activity, held on December 23, 2025, marked a step by FK UMS to strengthen the capacity of cadres and healthcare workers as the frontline in stunting prevention. It aligns with the Kalijambe Community Health Center’s tagline: “Preventing Stunting Is Important.”
“This activity is expected to support the acceleration of achieving sustainable stunting reduction targets and improve the quality of health for future generations,” Nining concluded.
