Indonesia's vision for a Golden Indonesia by 2045 is built on an ambitious goal: to increase its per capita income to US$30,300 and become a developed country. One of the core pillars of this vision is the transformation of nutritional and health development, which has been placed at the center of Indonesia’s long-term development plans.

The Ministry of National Development Planning, through its deputy for human, community, and cultural development, Amich Alhumami, highlighted the critical importance of nutrition and health development during the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Annual Meeting in 2024. According to Alhumami, the transformation of health and nutrition is not just a priority but a necessity to realize Indonesia’s full human development potential.

The Indonesian government has integrated this transformation into both the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025–2045 and the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025–2029. The aim is to create a strong foundation for improving human resources by focusing on the first 1,000 days of life, which is crucial for cognitive and physical development. Reducing stunting, increasing life expectancy, and improving nutrition among the population are all central targets of these efforts.

A major breakthrough has been made in reducing anemia among pregnant women, with a significant drop from 48.9% in 2018 to 27.7% in 2023. While this progress is encouraging, the government is focused on further reducing stunting rates, which remain a barrier to Indonesia’s long-term development. Stunting not only hinders a child’s physical growth but also affects their intellectual and economic potential in adulthood. Addressing malnutrition during this critical period is vital to breaking the cycle of poverty and improving Indonesia’s future workforce.

The government is taking a holistic approach to this challenge, focusing on cross-sectoral collaboration. Key to this is the National Strategy to Accelerate Stunting Prevention (Stranas Stunting), which brings together 23 ministries and over IDR 51.9 trillion (US$3.9 billion) in funding. The strategy includes interventions in areas like early childhood education, food security, health services, and social protection.

International organizations, including the World Bank, have recognized the government’s efforts to combat childhood stunting. They have provided support to expand these initiatives, with a goal to reduce stunting to 14% by 2024. As of 2022, stunting prevalence has dropped from 31.4% in 2018 to 21.6%, signaling progress, but the journey is far from over.

Alhumami also emphasized the importance of transforming Indonesia’s healthcare system to ensure that the nation’s future workforce is healthier and more productive. The ‘Health Transformation’ program focuses on improving public health, which is a critical component of the Golden Indonesia vision.

In conclusion, the government’s focus on nutrition and health development plays a crucial role in achieving the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. By prioritizing nutrition in early childhood, reducing stunting, and improving overall health, Indonesia is laying the foundation for a healthier, more prosperous future.