Supporting the "Gebyar Aksi Bergizi Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan" campaign, Phapros successfully distributed 500 million Iron Supplement Tablets.

Jakarta, November 22, 2022 - Stunting cases among toddlers are currently one of the most highlighted child health issues by the Government, due to Indonesia being one of the countries with a large demographic bonus. By 2030, it is estimated that 70% of Indonesia's population will be aged between 15-64 years, or in their productive years and will become the driving force behind the national economy. However, on the other hand, the threat of stunting's impact on this demographic bonus makes the government have to focus on reducing its prevalence over time.

Stunting is a condition where toddlers have below-average height, which also affects their motor and cognitive abilities in the future. This is due to prolonged inadequate nutrition intake and anemia experienced by adolescent girls and pregnant women. Based on the Indonesian Child Nutrition Status Survey (SSGBI) of the Ministry of Health in 2021, the national prevalence of stunting is still quite high at 24.4%. Currently, one of the provinces in Indonesia that is paying great attention to reducing stunting cases in its region is South Sulawesi Province. The prevalence of stunting in South Sulawesi itself is 27.4%, or above the national prevalence, making South Sulawesi Province one of the 15 provinces with the highest stunting rates nationally.

In line with this, PT Phapros Tbk, which is part of the large family of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the pharmaceutical sector, has long been focused and committed to supporting the government in reducing stunting rates. This is evidenced by Phapros' recent participation in the "Nutritious Action Festival of South Sulawesi Province" initiated by the South Sulawesi Provincial Government and at the same time breaking the record of the Indonesian World Achievement Institute (LEPRID) as the Largest Simultaneous Blood-Enhancing Tablet (TTD) Movement with the Most Participants in South Sulawesi last Friday (18/11).

Phapros Marketing Director, Imelda Alini Pohan, said that they appreciated the government's program in efforts to prevent stunting. "The stunting rate has indeed continued to decline every year, but the community must continue to be well-educated so that there will be no more stunting toddlers in the future," she said.

"To achieve the target of reducing stunting rates to 14% by 2024, support from all stakeholders is needed, where in this case, PT Phapros Tbk always supports various stunting alleviation programs carried out by the Government by providing the best products in the anemia therapy class, including Blood-Enhancing Tablets, Livron B Plex, Hemafort, and Pehavral, which can prevent an increase in stunting cases," added Imelda.

Imelda also said that Phapros' commitment in tackling stunting is evidenced by the development of several products related to the targeted fulfillment of malnutrition and anemia, as well as cooperation with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the Ministry of Health both at the central and regional levels, SOE partners, and regional governments in more than 15 provinces to jointly carry out education and stunting prevention efforts. Phapros will continue to support various similar programs in other regions throughout Indonesia.

At the same occasion, the Head of the South Province Health Department, Rosmini Pandin, stated that one of the programs in the RPJMN for the period of 2020-2024 is to improve community nutrition. "Under this nutrition improvement point, a national strategy has been established, which is to accelerate the prevention of stunting through the increase in the effectiveness of specific interventions such as the prevention of anemia in adolescent girls and pregnant women. According to the 2018 Riskesdas data, the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women is 48.9%, while the prevalence of anemia in adolescent girls aged 15-24 years is up to 32%. Therefore, cross-sector collaboration is needed so that we can together reduce stunting rates, especially in South Sulawesi. I express my gratitude to all parties involved in the implementation of this event," she said in her speech.

For your information, as of Q3/2022, as a form of high commitment to stunting cases, Phapros has distributed more than 500 million tablets of Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) throughout Indonesia. Representing the Management of PT Phapros Tbk, Imelda Alini Pohan highly appreciates the good cooperation that has been established between Phapros and relevant stakeholders so that stunting alleviation programs in various regions can be realized well. She also hopes that this cooperation can continue in the future.