Local Fish-Based Supplementation Program Significantly Reduces Stunting in Serdang Bedagai

Research conducted by the Bioinformatics & Data Science Research Center (BDSRC) BINUS University on the benefits of snakehead fish (Ikan Gabus) in preventing stunting has achieved significant recognition, being published in Scientific Reports. This prestigious international journal, one of the top five globally, is highly regarded and freely accessible. Prof. Bens Pardamean, Ph.D., head of BDSRC, highlighted this achievement to the media in Medan on May 29, 2024.

The study observed a notable reduction in stunting rates in Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra. Previously, the stunting rate in this region was 21%, but it has dropped to 14% this year, marking a 7% decrease. Dr. Yohnly Boelian Dachban, Head of the Serdang Bedagai Health Office, attributed this success to the local food interventions, particularly the inclusion of snakehead fish in children’s diets, and the collaborative efforts between local residents and government authorities. This case exemplifies the critical role of local food resources and community-government partnerships in swiftly tackling stunting.

The journal article details a government-initiated supplementation program aimed at reducing stunting prevalence through the distribution of nutritious biscuits from the national government and locally produced fish-based supplements. Conducted over six months from April to September 2022, the study involved 219 under-five children with a height-for-age Z-score (HAZ-score) below −2. The results showed a 37% reduction in stunting prevalence, with significant improvements in both HAZ-score and weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ-score) among the children. Notably, the most substantial HAZ-score improvement was seen in children receiving fish-based supplements, highlighting the effectiveness of these local interventions in combating stunting.

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