APRIL Group Supports Training of 300 Integrated Health Service Post Volunteers in Riau, Bolstering National Stunting Prevention Efforts

PELALAWAN,
INDONESIA – Media OutReach – 8
July 2021 – 300 integrated health service post (posyandu) volunteers
received special training to bolster efforts in stunting mitigation during the
pandemic. Initiated by APRIL Group’s Indonesia operations PT Riau Andalan Pulp
and Paper (RAPP), the 15-29 June 2021 online training aimed to support
healthcare workers in the management of 276 posyandu in Riau. The volunteers were
from various regions that included Pelalawan, Siak, Kuantan Singingi, Kampar,
and Meranti Islands.

Meranti
Islands District Health Office Head Dr. Misri Hasanto said: “Posyandu volunteers
serve on the frontline in rural areas and support the management of the
posyandu. This important training will broaden and improve their skillsets.
This will then positively impact maternal and child health, and help with wider
stunting prevention efforts.”

Susanti,
a Mekar Sari Village posyandu volunteer, said: “The training injects newfound
energy in all the volunteers. We learn how to better manage a posyandu during a
challenging time such as the pandemic. We have also learned useful skills in
development, data recording and reporting, in addition to developing a deeper
understanding on infant and toddler health and stunting prevention.”

The
Riau government has been actively working with stakeholders to reduce the
stunting prevalence to 14 percent in 2014. Governor Syamsuar said on the
sidelines of an event in which food packages under its Supplementary Feeding
Program were distributed to the community: “The stunting prevalence in Riau has
declined from 27.4 percent in 2018 to 23.7 percent in 2020. The figures are
still high and we require more support to fight stunting. It is important we
have continued collaboration between the government, the people and the private
sector. We are very grateful to be working with PT RAPP, which has committed to
tackle stunting in the province.”

RAPP’s
Community Development Strategic Planning Manager Bertone Anwar said that stunting
prevention required all stakeholders to work together, and more can be done to
improve the nutrition of children and pregnant women. He added that the
posyandu volunteer training program was part of APRIL Group’s commitment to
supporting the national stunting mitigation efforts. In Nov 2020, APRIL Group
launched APRIL2030, the company’s vision for meeting the challenges of the next
decade. The company counts stunting reduction in the areas near its operations
as one of its many targets in sustainable development.

APRIL
Group is part of a global group of resource manufacturing companies managed by
RGE. RGE’s business philosophy is to create value for the community, country,
climate, customer and company, and is founded by its Chairman Sukanto Tanoto.