Supporting the Vital Role of Health Cadres in Reducing Stunting, 1000 Days Fund Holds Posyandu Cadre Quiz Competition

A total of 48 posyandu (community health post) cadres from 16 villages in Welak Sub-district, West Manggarai Regency, participated in the first-ever Posyandu Cadre Quiz Competition organized by the 1000 Days Fund.

With great enthusiasm, the cadres answered various questions related to stunting prevention methods, as well as their rights and responsibilities in accordance with existing regulations.

“This event is a form of our support for posyandu cadres as the frontline of stunting prevention at the grassroots level. We are not only encouraging them to learn the substance of how to prevent stunting but also to understand their rights and responsibilities as cadres, according to regulations in Indonesia,” said Lidya Sophiani, Program Manager of the 1000 Days Fund for the West Manggarai Region.

Over the past four years, the 1000 Days Fund, in collaboration with the West Manggarai Regency Government through the Health Office, DPMD, Bappeda, and village governments, has been promoting the strengthening of posyandu cadres’ roles through training, mentoring, and support for a health system designed to empower posyandu cadres in improving community health. This partnership has contributed to a reduction in stunting in West Manggarai from 15% in 2021 to 11.8% in 2024¹.

“I hope this event is not seen only as a competition but as an opportunity to learn and build mutual understanding on how we can work together across sectors to support cadres in carrying out their roles in line with the blueprint for implementing Integrated Primary Services,” said Alexius Nggarang, Head of the Public Health Division of the West Manggarai Health Office, who represented the Head of the Health Office at the event’s opening.

In addition to the cadres, the event was also attended by village heads from the Welak Sub-district, who received a presentation on the importance of the cadre role and the need for village-level support, both in terms of facilities at the posyandu and financial allocation. “Currently, regulations from the Ministry of Home Affairs already state that cadres are entitled to receive incentives and are no longer considered volunteers. Therefore, villages must prepare proper incentives for them. I hope this becomes a shared concern, especially for villages in Welak,” said Welak Sub-district Head Avelinus Joni.

A representative of the cadres present expressed hope that support and attention for posyandu or health cadres would not end with this event, but would be reflected in their involvement in regulatory processes — from village development meetings (Musdes), development planning forums (Musrenbang), to Stunting Coordination Meetings (Rakor Stunting).

¹https://ntt.bps.go.id/id/statistics-table/2/MTQ4OSMy/jumlah-balita-stunting-menurut-kabupaten-kota.html