Stunting alleviation was first carried out at the village level. The posyandu activity is the first detection place to find out the risk of stunting in children under five years old. Posyandu activities are routinely carried out once a month. This is a health facility that is easily achieved by rural communities in monitoring children’s growth.
In posyandu, activities are often carried out to measure height, length, weight, size of the circumference of the arms and head, as well as providing vitamins and nutritious food for toddlers. This measurement is carried out by posyandu officers called cadres. Posyandu cadres are the frontline in dealing with the risk of stunting in children. What is the role of posyandu cadres at the village level in dealing with stunting? Check it out in the following short review.
The Role of Posyandu Cadres in Handling Stunting!
Posyandu cadres are community members who are selected, willing, and able to work together in health activities, especially in alleviating stunting. Usually, posyandu cadres are selected by volunteers in stunting deliberations with the Village Government. There are requirements for becoming a posyandu cadre according to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (2003), including:
- Residents living in the local village
- Have the ability to read and write
- Able to cooperate in posyandu activities voluntarily
- Patience and understanding of old age
Meanwhile, in its implementation, these posyandu cadres have a role in alleviating stunting. This role aims to realize government programs in handling stunting. The following is the role of posyandu cadres:
- Providing counseling and socialization about health, especially stunting issues, to parents
- Providing maternal and child health services, such as measuring height, and weight, measuring the circumference of the upper arm and head, detecting child development, monitoring the immunization status of children, monitoring child parenting, monitoring toddlers, and feeding
- Conducting guidance for parents in monitoring toddlers
- Motivate parents to continue to provide good parenting
- Inform parents to contact cadres if they find problems with toddler growth
- Registering for routine posyandu activities every month.
These posyandu cadres are equipped with training in how to measure and weigh toddlers in the implementation of posyandu activities. In the posyandu activities taking place, the cadres must prepare the following:
- Inform parents regarding the days and opening hours of the posyandu
- Prepare equipment the implementation of poyandu in the implementation of posyandu, such as notebooks, KMS, and props
- Registering babies, toddlers, pregnant women, and mothers of childbearing age
- Weighing babies and toddlers
- Record measurement results through scales
- Tasked with conducting individual counseling for mothers
- Tasked with conducting home visits related to health counseling for pregnant women, babies/toddlers, and couples of childbearing age
In alleviating stunting in the village, these posyandu cadres are required to actively coordinate with the Village Government, health service units, education, and community groups. It aims to harmonize stunting alleviation programs.
Here Are The Important Measuring Instruments In Posyandu!
It is important to know that in posyandu activities, there are certainly measuring instruments used in measuring height, weight, and the size of the circumference of the upper arms and head. For this reason, an accurate anthropometric measuring instrument is needed to obtain the appropriate results. Of course, the posyandu cadres must be careful in choosing this anthropometric measuring instrument.
Now, look for anthropometric measuring instruments that do not need to be imported from abroad. Because, in Indonesia itself, there is already the largest manufacturer of anthropometric equipment, namely PT Solo Abadi Indonesia. The location is in Surakarta City, Central Java. Our anthropometric kit products are accurate and have complied with the specifications of the Ministry of Health. It has also been used by more than 500 posyandu in Indonesia.
If you’re interested in our anthropometric kit, just contact us on WhatsApp. Or you can also get it easily on the E-Catalog. Get the latest information from us on the www.soloabadi.com website.
Read Also: Body Measuring Tape, An Essential Instrument in Every Public Health Services
