Jakarta – This year, the Ministry of Health is again holding a health policy recommendation writing competition using data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI). The culminating event is titled Evidence-Based Nutrition Policy Health Conference: Insight from National Nutrition Survey (SSGI) 2024 The competition was held in the Leimena Room of the Ministry of Health Building on Friday (19/12). The award ceremony for the winners of this competition was held to recognize and provide a platform for disseminating the best scientific articles and policy briefs.
Acting Head of the Center for Health Policy Efforts of the Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK), Dwi Puspasari, as the Chairperson of the Committee, stated that during the competition, 355 draft manuscripts were submitted, 259 concepts successfully passed screening, and 130 full-text submissions met the requirements. Of the 130 full-text submissions, three winners were selected for each of the Scientific Article and Policy Brief categories. In addition to the six winners, six best posters were also selected for awards.
Puspa advised the winners and finalists to persevere in producing high-quality scientific work relevant to the national context. She encouraged the authors to follow up by publishing in reputable journals.
"I would like to specifically encourage the participants, especially the finalists and winners whose work has gone through a rigorous selection and review process, to continue working hard. Use this momentum as a catalyst to develop your work into articles published in reputable scientific journals, both nationally and internationally," said Puspa.
A similar sentiment was expressed by the Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dante Saksono Herbuwono, who was present to present the awards to the winners. He emphasized that this event is not just a competition, but an ecosystem. It is an effort to build a sustainable, evidence-based policy culture, where research and innovation do not end up in piles of paper but are realized in concrete policy implementation within the Ministry of Health.
"Keep writing, keep researching, and never tire of sharing data, because we know that every number we discuss today represents a life and a future we want to fight for in this beloved land," urged Prof. Dante.
On this occasion, Prof. Dante also again touched on the 2024 SSGI data. He said that the data was a reflection of the current conditions.Update Indonesian society regarding nutritional aspects.
Prof. Dante explained that there is a paradox in the SSGI data. Although the figures stunting to 19,8%, better than the target set, but the figure underweight also increased to 16,8%.
"These two contrasting conditions are a clear message that our interventions must not be half-hearted. That's why this scientific writing competition is being held, to address the major issues that exist based on the 2024 SSGI. We are here to reaffirm our commitment to addressing challenges based on SSGI data," said Prof. Dante.
The Head of the BKPK, Prof. Asnawi Abdullah, who was unable to attend this occasion because he was on duty accompanying the Minister of Health to visit disaster-affected areas in Aceh, also gave a message via video broadcast to the winners.
"When we write, in essence we are writing down legacy"Therefore, I express my deepest appreciation to the 130 participants who have committed to submitting their best work, who have carved a legacy that will inspire the nation's health journey in the future," he said.
Prof. Asnawi appealed to the participants to use this forum as a space for constructive dialogue, where evidence meet with experience, and innovative ideas collaborating with practical policies. He also hoped that this event would not only produce strong policy recommendations but also foster a higher level of scientific publication in Indonesia.
"We hope the papers from this competition will enrich the references for policymakers, academics, and health practitioners in making more targeted decisions, particularly in efforts to accelerate improvements in the nutritional status of toddlers in Indonesia," he said.
Prior to the awards ceremony, a conference was held where the 12 finalists were given the opportunity to present their work orally to the participants and invited guests. During this session, the finalists were also invited to discuss and engage in dialogue with the participants. stakeholders nutrition program led by a moderator. A total of 54 of the best posters were also displayed in events this.
This event, which was held offline and online, invited participants. stakeholders nutrition programs such as the Office of the Vice President's Secretariat, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Research and Innovation Agency, the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN, the National Nutrition Agency, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency, World Institutions such as: WHO, UNICEF, ADB, World Bank, SEAMEO RECFON, SUN Network, as well as academics, Heads of Provincial and District/City Health Services, and Directors of Health Polytechnics throughout Indonesia.
Here is the list of winners of the 2025 Health Policy Recommendation Writing Competition:
Winner of the Scientific Article Category
1st Place: Team Leader: Hanifah Al Khairiyah from Riau University with the title “Ultra-processed food consumption and stunting among Indonesian children aged 6–23 months amid dietary transition”
2nd Place: Team Leader: Bunga Astria Paramashanti from BRIN with the title: Socioeconomic inequality in stunting in children aged 6-23 months in Indonesia: concentration index decomposition analysis
3rd Place: Team Leader: Rahayu Sutrisno from Brawijaya University with the title Uncovering Hidden Burden: Multiple Anthropometric Failures among Under-Five Children in Indonesia Using Secondary Analysis of SSGI 2024
Policy Brief Category Winner
1st Place: Team Leader: Sofa Rahmannia from Pasundan University with the title: Rebalancing the Contents of a Breastfeeding Mother's Plate: National Evidence for a More Impactful Revision of My Plate Contents
2nd Place: Team Leader: Dewi Nirmala Sari from Poltekkes Kemenkes Jakarta III with the title Strategy for Accelerating Stunting Reduction Based on District Characteristics: Analysis of 2018 Riskesdas Data Trends and 2024 SSGI for Targeted Policies
3rd Place: Team Leader: Mochamad Abdul Hakam from the Semarang City Health Office with the title: GANESSHA: Health and Stunting Care Movement with Students
Best Poster Winner
Team Leader: Wiji Wahyuningsih from the University of Indonesia with the title: The Paradox Under One Roof The Double Burden of Malnutrition in Indonesian Households
Team Leader: Deri Kermelita from Poltekkes Kemenkes Bengkulu with the title: Access to Safe Drinking Water, Improved Sanitation, and Stunting Prevalence in Indonesia: An Analysis Based on the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey
Team Leader: Soraya Isfandiary Iskandar from Gajah Mada University with the title: Unraveling Under-Five Morbidity: The Role of Household and Environmental Factors in Indonesia using SSGI 2024
Team Leader: Nur Khasanah from Respati University Yogyakarta with the title: Answering Challenges and Gaps: A Comparative Study of the Nutritional Status of Indonesian Children with the NUTRIS-3T Framework in Yogyakarta, Papua, and Natuna
Team Leader: Fatmawati from Hasanudin University with the title Factors Associated with Stunting Incidence in 10 Provinces with the Highest Prevalence Based on 2024 SSGI Data
Team Leader: Hadrianti Haji Darise from Lambung Mangkurat University with the title: Toddler Stunting Prediction Model Based on Wasting with GWR to Support Asta Cita
(Author: Kurniatun Karomah, Editor: Pusjak UK)
