The Power of Moringa Leaves
Starting from the findings of poor nutritional conditions in toddlers and pregnant women, which is well known as KEK (Chronic Energy Deficiency) in Pahae Jae and Pahae Julu sub-districts, the Sarulla CSR Team and Health Office of North Tapanuli intervened for 3 months to restore the nutrition problem. As a result, 19 out of a total of 22 underweight toddlers currently have normal weight and have changed nutritional status – while the other 3 toddlers are still in poor nutritional status. However, the nutritional status of the three children under five experienced an increase, although not significantly. 2 of 3 KEK pregnant women currently have good nutritional status – while the other 1 does not experience weight gain due to the “special” conditions.
Sarulla Operations Ltd CSR team and Nutrition Department of North Tapanuli Regency utilize Moringa leaves which are processed into cookies as one of the components for the additional food for malnourished toddlers and pregnant women in this intervention program. This has succeeded in showing a good impact in the recovery of severe malnutrition cases significantly. Through this program, North Tapanuli was also nominated as “District with Innovation for Nutrition Program 2021” on National Health Day – November 2021 at the Provincial level.
Besides the intervention program above, as a further effort in preventing stunting, especially in villages around the project– 100 Moringa seedlings were distributed to 19 villages, in Pahae Julu and Pahae Jae Subdistricts in December 2021. These seeds are expected to be developed and managed by the village government through PKK (Family Welfare Development Unit) and cadres Posyandu (Integrated service post for mother and baby) as food ingredients in Posyandu activities; toddlers (including pregnant women) and the elderly in collaboration with the North Tapanuli Health Office to prevent and reduce stunting and malnutrition.
