KUPANG, JurnalPost.com — Stunting prevention is not solely the mother's responsibility. A father's involvement in childcare, ensuring proper nutrition, and monitoring a child's growth and development plays a crucial role in building a family that is more attentive to children's health.
Efforts to strengthen this role were carried out by a team of lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (FKKH) at Nusa Cendana University (Undana) through a community service program themed “Father Involvement Class for Strengthening the Role of Fathers in Family-Based Stunting Prevention in Bello Village, Kupang City.”
The event took place in Bello Village, Maulafa District, Kupang City, on Thursday, 1 October 2026, from 09.00–12.00 WITA. A total of 40 fathers with toddlers participated in the event with the support of the Bello Village Government.
The head of the community service team, Syahrir, S.Kep., M.Si., explained that this program was motivated by the need to strengthen stunting prevention efforts in East Nusa Tenggara.
According to him, education regarding stunting prevention has largely been directed at mothers. In reality, a father's involvement is also required, ranging from supporting nutritional needs to accompanying the child's growth and development process.
“Fathers play a vital role as decision-makers in the family, providers of emotional and economic support, and companions in the child's growth and development process,” said Syahrir.
Through this activity, fathers were encouraged to understand that childcare is a shared responsibility between both parents.
Fathers Encouraged to Actively Monitor Child Development
During the Father Involvement Class, participants received education on various ways fathers can contribute to stunting prevention.
The material provided included the importance of supporting mothers in childcare, accompanying children during meals, attending growth monitoring sessions at the integrated healthcare center (posyandu), and participating in preparing nutritious meals.
Participants were also introduced to the use of local food ingredients as part of creating nutritious family menus that can be applied in daily life.
The material was delivered interactively through group discussions, feeding simulations, and menu-planning exercises.
This method provided participants with the opportunity to not only receive information but also share experiences regarding the parenting styles and habits currently practiced in their respective families.
With this approach, stunting prevention material is expected to be more easily understood as it is directly linked to the situations families face every day.
“Fathers Care About Stunting” Campaign
In addition to the educational sessions, the FKKH Undana team introduced the “Fathers Care About Stunting” campaign with the slogan:
“Fathers present, fathers care, fathers involved.”
The campaign aims to foster awareness that a father's presence is not just about fulfilling the family's economic needs.
Fathers are also expected to be directly involved in childcare, supporting maternal and child health, and ensuring the child's growth and development needs are met.
This involvement can be carried out through various simple activities, such as accompanying children during meals, helping to select nutritious food, attending posyandu activities, and discussing the child's health progress with the mother.
Involving FKKH Undana Lecturers and Students
This community service program involved a team of lecturers from the FKKH at Nusa Cendana University.
Syahrir, S.Kep., M.Si. served as the team leader, with members Dr. Audrey Gracelia Riwu, S.Kep., Ns., M.Imun.; Insani Fitrahulil Jannah, S.K.M., M.Biomed.; and dr. Nimas Prita Rahajeningtyas Kusuma Wardani, M.Biomed.
Meanwhile, Rahel Rara Woda, S.Si., M.K.M. served as a speaker for the event.
The implementation of the activity was also supported by educational staff member Jean Carolyn V. Sir, S.K.M., as well as students from the FKKH Undana Medical Education Study Program who assisted with various field activities.
This program received funding from the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at Nusa Cendana University.
Bello Village Government Appreciates the Initiative
The Bello Village Government expressed its appreciation to the Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Nusa Cendana University for conducting an activity that directly targets fathers with toddlers.
The village government hopes that the knowledge gained by participants will not end once the activity concludes but will be applied in their daily family lives.
Participants are also expected to share the information and experiences they gained with their families and the wider community in their respective neighborhoods.
With increasingly active fatherly involvement, parenting within the family is expected to become more collaborative. Fathers and mothers can work together to ensure that nutritional needs, health, and child development receive attention from an early age.
This family-based approach is expected to strengthen stunting prevention efforts in Bello Village while supporting the improvement of child health quality in East Nusa Tenggara.
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