The Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) launched the Kedaireka Matching Fund, the DASHAT (Healthy Kitchen Overcome Stunting) Program, and Martabe (Stunting Risk Management to Create Quality Children) followed by the signing of the Charter of Cooperation between USU and 25 partner universities throughout North Sumatra. , and BKKBN. The activity was held at Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel Medan on Thursday, (09/01/2022).

The event was officially opened by the Rector of USU Dr. Muryanto Amin., S.Sos., M.Si and attended by the Chair of the Higher Education Assistance Team for the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction Program/Head of the Health Sector Rector Forum, Prof. dr. Fasli Jalal, Sp.GK., Ph.D., then a series of rectors, directors, or leaders of 25 universities, the Head of the North Sumatra BKKBN Representative, Muhammad Irzal, SE, ME, and others.

"So we created a useful program, that this program was an idea from USU to reduce stunting," said Muryanto Amin.

The Rector said that the programs carried out would prioritize the corridors of implementing the Tridharma of Higher Education, such as community service, counseling, and research, especially regarding stunting risk factors because several districts/cities in North Sumatra have quite high stunting rates, such as Madina Regency at 47.7 percent. , Padang Lawas 42 percent, and West Pakpak 40.8 percent.

"The cooperation that will be carried out is of course prioritized in the corridor of implementing the Tridharma of Higher Education, such as community service, education / counseling, research / research, especially regarding stunting risk factors," said the Rector.

It was explained that the actions that universities would take to overcome this were to go to the field and one of them was to socialize healthy kitchens using local food. So that the targets of this counseling are prospective brides, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and families.

"After this, the action will go down to the field to socialize healthy kitchens and use local foods," he said.

The Head of the North Sumatra BKKBN Representative, Muhammad Irzal, SE, ME explained, universities, the government, and the media must collaborate in order to suppress the stunting rate. Therefore, Muhammad Irzal hopes that with the collaboration led by USU, the program which will be implemented in 25 districts/cities in North Sumatra can contribute to reducing stunting rates.

"Hopefully the stunting rate will go down," said the Head of the North Sumatra BKKBN Representative.

Chairman of the Rector's Forum for Health, Prof. dr. Fasli Jalal, Sp.GK., Ph.D. grateful that North Sumatra is one of the provinces with the most involvement of members of the rector's group.

"Because it has successfully involved 25 companion universities under the coordination of the USU Rector to help 25 districts/cities related to stunting," he said. (©ULC)

Author: Bambang Riyanto - HUMAS

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Irsyad Mulyadi - HUMAS