26 September 2024
Syafrijal S.Kom
MEDAN - Prof. Dr. Ir. Evawany Yunita Aritonang, Professor of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and her team visited SMPN 1 Salak, Pakpak Bharat Regency, as part of Community Service, Wednesday (14/8/2024). The service entitled "Empowering Young Women with Nutrition Education and Monitoring of Iron Tablet Consumption as an Effort to Prevent Stunting for the Future Generation" was carried out by examining the students' blood to find out the health problems of these school children.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Evawany Yunita Aritonang explained that from the results of blood tests, it was found that several students of SMPN 1 Salak were still experiencing anemia, which was suspected to be the result of poor nutritional balance due to an imbalance in food intake between protein and carbohydrates.
"Nutritional imbalance (malnutrition) affects stunting and has an impact on children's weak ability to grasp the learning carried out at school," explained Prof. Evawany.
According to her, stunting in children can affect them from childhood to adulthood.
"In the short term, stunting in children causes disruption to brain development, body metabolism and physical growth," she concluded.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Evawany Yunita Aritonang recommends the importance for parents to be diligent in ensuring that children maintain a healthy diet such as eating healthy fruits and vegetables.
Adequate nutritional intake from an early age and getting complete immunizations, according to her, are good steps to ensure that children are sufficiently protected from various health problems.
The principal of SMPN 1 Salak, Tumpak Banurea, expressed her gratitude for the presence of Prof. Dr. Ir. Evawany Yunita Aritonang and the community service team that she leads.
"Thank you for the presence of Mrs. Prof. Dr. Ir. Evawany Yunita Aritonang and the team at this school, the more people who pay attention to our children, the better," she said.
Source: https://medan.tribunnews.com/2024/08/14/guru-besar-usu-prof-dr-ir-evawany-yunita-aritonang-dan-tim-kunjungi-smpn-1-salak-lakukan-hal-ini.
