The award was presented by Indonesia's Minister of Population and Family Development and Head of BKKBN, Wihaji, and was received by PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk's Division Head of Belitung Area, Feriandi.
In supporting the GENTING Program, PT TIMAH has gone beyond providing nutritional assistance by implementing interventions that address families' basic needs. This approach recognizes that stunting prevention requires comprehensive measures, including improvements in housing conditions, sanitation, nutritional intake, and family awareness of health and childcare practices.
The company's contributions include renovating 14 substandard housing units, comprising seven units in Belitung Regency, three in East Belitung Regency, three in Pangkalpinang City, and one in Bangka Regency.
PT TIMAH also supported the construction of three sanitary toilet facilities, including one in Belitung Regency and two in East Belitung Regency. In addition, the company provided nutritional assistance and educational support to 80 families at risk of stunting.
These initiatives target families requiring special attention, including low-income households, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and families with children up to six years old. These groups are a key priority because stunting prevention must begin during pregnancy and continue throughout a child's early years.
Acting Head of the BKKBN Representative Office in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province, Yudi Rafani, expressed his appreciation for PT TIMAH's commitment and contributions to accelerating stunting prevention and reduction in Bangka Belitung.
"The involvement of businesses such as PT TIMAH provides a concrete example of the importance of collaboration between the government and various stakeholders in expanding the reach of interventions for families at risk of stunting," he said.
This collaboration also strengthens the pentahelix approach, which brings together government, businesses, academia, communities, and the media to build a supportive ecosystem for family development.
Similarly, Utiwi Dardini, Head of the Permaslalinlap Working Team and a member of Pillar 3 for Program Convergence and Partnerships under the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Stunting Reduction Acceleration Team (TP3S), emphasized that the award received by PT TIMAH highlights the importance of collaboration and coordinated programs in accelerating stunting reduction.
According to Utiwi, stunting cannot be addressed solely by meeting nutritional needs. Other factors must also be considered, including sanitation, access to clean water, adequate housing, maternal and child health, and education on parenting practices.
"The award received by PT TIMAH demonstrates that cross-sector collaboration is more than just a commitment on paper. It can be translated into concrete actions that address the needs of families. In accelerating stunting reduction, the focus cannot be limited to nutritional intake alone. Sanitation, clean water, adequate housing, healthcare, and parenting practices must also receive attention," Utiwi said.
She added that the success of partnership programs should also be measured by how effectively they reach their intended beneficiaries, the continuity of assistance, and the tangible benefits experienced by recipient families.
In addition to providing direct assistance, PT TIMAH consistently strengthens community education on the importance of adequate nutrition and stunting prevention.
The company collaborates with the Indonesian Breastfeeding Mothers Association (AIMI) in Bangka Belitung to improve families' understanding of how to prepare nutritious meals using locally available ingredients. This educational initiative encourages communities to make better use of local food resources to provide healthy and nutritious meals for their families.
PT TIMAH also provides supplementary food and education on the importance of adequate nutritional intake, particularly for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and growing children.
Through this approach, the company aims to encourage positive behavioral changes by increasing public awareness of balanced nutrition, healthy eating habits, and the importance of meeting nutritional needs from an early age.
PT TIMAH also supports efforts to improve family well-being in the Riau Islands Province. In collaboration with the BKKBN Representative Office in the Riau Islands Province, the company supports the TAMASYA (Taman Asuh Sayang Anak) Program, an initiative designed to strengthen childcare education and improve the quality of childcare environments.
These collaborative initiatives reflect PT TIMAH's ongoing commitment to supporting the development of healthy, thriving families while expanding the company's contribution to stunting prevention efforts across its operational areas. (*)
