How PT Mayawana Persada Tackles Child Stunting in West Kalimantan

KETAPANG, WEST KALIMANTAN — The long-term vitality of any community depends on the health and development of its youngest generation. In remote rural areas, child stunting remains a critical public health challenge. Stunting is a chronic growth failure resulting from long-term nutritional deficiencies during the First 1,000 Days of Life—from conception through a child's third year.

To address these vulnerabilities, PT Mayawana Persada conducted a targeted stunting awareness and nutrition program across two rural communities in the Simpang Hulu District: Kualan Hilir Village and Sekucing Kualan Village.

Holistic Dietary Guidance and Targeted Food Assistance

The initiative combines preventative education with direct nutritional support. Alongside interactive workshops guiding parents on balanced meal preparation, the team provided high-protein supplemental food packages to young children identified as being at risk of developmental stunting.

To maintain medical accuracy and consistent follow-up, PT Mayawana Persada paired its in-house corporate clinical team with local public health professionals, including accredited village midwives (bidan desa) and auxiliary clinic nurses. This collaborative approach ensured accurate anthropometric evaluations, height-for-age tracking, and tailored dietary advice for participating mothers.

Strong Local Village Governance Support

The intervention was warmly welcomed by local authorities. Head of Sekucing Kualan Village, Yermiarim, emphasized the importance of regular health partnerships for rural families.

"This program directly benefits the children in our village. It gives us practical tools to curb, reduce, and hopefully eliminate child stunting altogether," said Yermiarim, commonly known as Ami.

Ami reaffirmed his administration's commitment to supporting ongoing health monitoring in the field. "We fully back this program and will continue assisting our village health workers to ensure these interventions reach the households that need them most."

Protecting Cognitive Potential and Long-Term Productivity

PT Mayawana Persada CSR Assistant Kelvin J. Setyadi stressed that addressing child malnutrition represents an indispensable social investment in future human capital.

"Children affected by stunting often exhibit shorter physical stature for their age. However, the more critical consequence is the unseen impact on brain development, learning capacity, and lifelong economic productivity," Kelvin noted. "Eliminating stunting requires continuous, multi-stakeholder vigilance across these formative years."

By pairing nutritional education with village medical networks and dietary support, PT Mayawana Persada remains dedicated to building a healthier, more resilient future for children across West Kalimantan.