REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Ministry of Religious Affairs) engages thousands of religious practitioners and practitioners to educate the public about health, including the issue of stamping.

This was stated by the Special Staff of the Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) for Media and Public Communication Wibowo Prasetyo during a briefing before ASN Kanwil Kemenag Bali in Denpasar, Wednesday (17/4/2024).

Wibowo explained that the Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) of the Republic of Indonesia, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has published Circular No. SE.2 of 2024 on the Implementation of the Duties of Religious Extension and Discipline in Support of the Government's Priority Programs. There are four priority programs explicitly referred to in the circular, namely stunting reduction, poverty alleviation, economic empowerment, and environmental preservation.

Wibowo said that the circular was published in order to optimize the role of religious facilitators and practitioners, as well as accelerate the implementation of the program. Because, according to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since the leadership of Gus Men Yaqut has focused on contributing to the success of the government's priority programs.

In connection with efforts to reduce stunting, for example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs optimized the role of the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) and the Religious Education Institution (LPK). Religious extenders and KUA residents are at the forefront, both in extension programs with a religious approach and marriage guidance. Religious education teachers and academics of the Religious College also provided enlightenment.

“The Ministry involved 9,000 residents and 50,000 religious extension workers in health education through sermons, lectures, and religious teachings. Religious violators and propagators are generally public figures, so their voices are heard more, let alone convey the issue of stunting in religious language,” Wibowo said in a press release on Wednesday (17/4/2024).

“The Ministry also cooperates with BKKBN and BRIN in efforts to prevent stunting from upstream by educating prospective brides through marriage guidance,” he said.

In addition, according to Wibowo, the Ministry of Education has recruited 3,200 facilitators of Marriage Guidance for Brides (Bimwin Catin) and Guidance of School-Age Adolescents (BRUS). Because, from the end of July 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will require Marriage Guidance (Bimwin) for prospective brides.

“Through K/L synergies, thank God the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia continues to decline: 27.67 percent in 2020, 24.4 percent in 2021, and 21.6 percent in 2022. World Health Agency (WHO) recommendation standard, prevalence is below 20 percent. The government's target by 2024, the prevalence of stunting is down to 14 percent,” he said.

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