Malnutrition in toddler is characterised by several features, among others, body weight below normal, thin, reddish hair, and distended bellies. Other characteristics are moon face due to edema (swelling) or monkey face (wrinkles). The condition causes toddlers fussy/whiny and less responsive.
According to Prof. Dr. Ir. Endang Sutriswati Rahayu, M.S., if the malnutrition is prolonged it will affect the intelligence. Besides, it also affects the physical and mental growth of toddlers. "Children look short, thin, compared to peers who are healthier. When entering school age, they are not capable of making good achievement because their intelligence is disturbed," she said in LPPM Auditorium on Thursday (9/6), in 90 Minutes Seminar on Knowledge Partnership under theme ‘Development of Local Natural Resources as Raw Materials in Supporting National Industry’.
Endang said that the condition of malnutrition is caused by several factors. The most fundamental factor is very low incomes and poverty that affect the food supply at the household level. Another factor is the knowledge of mothers about nutrition which is low. "The pattern of child care which is not healthy makes food consumption not nutritious and healthy, which then affects the health conditions of children," she explained.
Therefore, not surprisingly, there are many cases being found in toddlers in underweight and malnutrition category in Indonesia. SUSENAS data in 2007 documented cases of malnutrition of 13% and 5.4% of severe malnutrition, with a total of 18% of 18 million toddlers. These data imply that there are about 1 million toddlers with malnutrition. "Therefore, improving nutrition of toddlers can be done through the provision of nutritious food at affordable prices for the public. This effort will surely support the government programs in order to prepare qualified human resources," she said.
Discussing the sub-theme "Saving the Next Generation with Adequacy of Nutritious, Balanced, and Affordable Foods", Endang Sutriswati hoped there is formula of local soy-based infant porridge by adding vitamins and minerals, selling at low price so it is affordable by low-income communities. This has been done by PT Sari Husada that developed Anjasmoro soybean among farmers in Yogyakarta and Central Java. "(We develop) Not only porridge, but also milk and others. All can be done by preparing local sustainable supply of soybeans, beginning from seed selection, cultivation, and post-harvesting by obeying the rules in best practice model," she added.
Ahmad Yama, Sourcing and Suppliers Development Buyer of PT Sari Husada, has the same expectation. Processed soybeans are expected to be substitutes for milk and food. "Breast milk is the best food for babies. However, to mothers who cannot breastfeed their babies optimally, the following option is milk-based infant formula," Ahmad Yama said.
On the condition of allergic infants to cow’s milk or infant with lactose intolerance, Soy-Based Infant Formula/SBIF is the right choice. SBIF is recognized as an alternative to cow’s milk for babies. Therefore, through corporate social responsibility (CSR), PT Sari Husada holds a number of parties at UGM and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to jointly develop research related to the development of soybean plants to supply supporting food.
With a special scheme, PT Sari Husada conducts training courses to farmers. For the success of this program, PT Sari Husada has conducted contract for the purchase of soybeans produced by farmers in some areas. "The contract policy is taken in case there is soybean harvest, the farmers still get a high price when the price falls in the market," Ahmad Yama added.