LETTERS: In Malaysia, despite advancements in maternal and child healthcare access and quality, the prevalence of stunting has remained over the past decade.
Data from the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey indicates that a staggering 21.8 per cent of Malaysian children are stunted.
This rate is three times higher than the average in upper-middle-income countries and surpasses even lower-middle-income nations like Ghana (17.5 per cent) and regions plagued by conflicts such as Iraq (12.6 per cent) and Palestine (7.4 per cent).
Malaysia has seen an increase since 2010. Tragically, the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated this situation.
A 2020 United Nations Children's Fund study revealed that the pandemic altered the dietary habits of low-income urban families due to income reduction.
This transformation manifested as increased consumption of inexpensive yet unhealthy options like instant noodles, reduced intake of fruits, and substitution of animal protein with eggs.
Approximately one in five Malaysian families struggle to provide diverse foods to their children, forced to prioritise affordability amidst rising living costs and food inflation.
Comparing this scenario with Bima City, an Indonesian town on Sumbawa Island, reveals a success story.
Despite facing challenges such as flash floods, Bima City has witnessed a remarkable reduction in stunting over the past five years, from 36.5 per cent in 2017 to 14.8 per cent in 2022.
This progress can be attributed to a conditional cash assistance programme that entails cash transfers to poor households for purchasing children's food, providing micronutrient interventions for toddlers and pregnant women, and imparting health and nutrition education to parents.
This programme is supplemented by improvements in sanitation and healthcare facilities, innovative public health initiatives, and direct engagement with communities through regular health facility visits.
Stunting represents more than nutritional deficiency; it mirrors deep-rooted social inequalities. While inadequate nutrition remains a pivotal cause, it arises from gaps in nutritional understanding, insufficient child-rearing practices, poverty, and food security.
The case of Bima City emphasises that addressing child malnutrition necessitates a multifaceted, collaborative approach involving government bodies, private sectors, non-governmental organisations, and the general populace.
Seamless cooperation across social security, education, healthcare, nutrition and sanitation sectors is imperative to pave the way for healthier child development.
By embracing comprehensive measures, societies can break the cycle of stunting and nurture healthier generations poised for a brighter future.
DR ROMI BHAKTI HARTARTO
Postdoctoral research fellow, Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times