Hasto Wardoyo's stunting prevention strategies

During his tenure as head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Hasto Wardoyo implemented targeted strategies to prevent stunting in Indonesia. One specific method involved monitoring the upper arm circumference of prospective brides.

Under this program, women with an upper arm circumference of less than 35 cm were issued a ‘yellow card’ indicating a potential risk of giving birth to a stunted child. To address this, the BKKBN provided free nutritional food assistance and monitored the progress of these individuals. If nutritional improvements were not met by the time of marriage, a second warning was issued, advising the couple to use contraception and focus on improving physical health before attempting to conceive.

In addition to arm circumference measurements, the program included screenings for hemoglobin levels, blood sugar, and hepatitis to identify the root causes of stunting through a precise, cost-effective approach.