Minister Risma Installs Solar Water Systems to Fight Stunting in North Aceh

NORTH ACEH (30 May 2024) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini installed clean water treatment systems at two points in North Aceh Regency. The construction of these clean water installations aims to meet the clean water needs of the community while also preventing stunting, which is prevalent in North Aceh.

Providing clean water is a priority for Minister Risma because consuming contaminated water can have adverse effects on brain development and health. "Water containing high levels of iron and manganese can damage our brains. So, why stunting rates are high might not only be due to nutrition but also due to water factors," said the Minister while interacting with residents in Geudumbak Village, Langkahan District, on Wednesday (29/5) afternoon, after greeting the elderly at the peak of the commemoration of the 28th National Elderly Day (HLUN) and the 20th Anniversary of Disaster Response Volunteer (Tagana).

During the dialogue, residents complained about the difficulty of accessing clean water, with the stunting rate reaching 19 children in one village. Therefore, Minister Risma pledged to add two more clean water installations in Geudumbak Village. In Langkahan District, the eastern part of North Aceh Regency, groundwater is generally yellowish in color and emits an unpleasant odor, making it unsuitable for consumption. Water from rivers and springs around Geudumbak Village also has poor quality. This has forced residents to buy water at a relatively high price, reaching IDR 5,000 - IDR 10,000 per day, which is a heavy burden for people with limited income, especially farmers. "Our problem so far is that sometimes the water is dirty, yellowish, and smelly," explained Geudumbak Village Chief Saiful Bahri.

The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) installed a clean water treatment system with a capacity of 5,000 liters. There are four tanks used to process water containing harmful substances into clean water. One resident of Geudumbak Village, Marlina (40), expressed enthusiasm for the installation of water systems by MoSA. "We express our gratitude to Minister Risma. The problem of difficulty in obtaining clean water has finally been resolved," she said.

In commemoration of HLUN 2024 in North Aceh, MoSA installed two clean water treatment systems in Geudumbak Village, Langkahan District, and Cinta Makmur Village, Baktiya District. Not only do these installations have large capacities, but they are also equipped with 3,000-watt solar cells. Minister Risma took this step so that the community does not need to spend money on electricity costs.

Minister Risma consistently emphasizes the importance of assisting communities facing difficulties in accessing clean water. Several clean water treatment installations have been built in various locations, including East Sumba Regency, East Manggarai Regency, Gunung Kidul Regency, Bogor Regency, and elsewhere. Before the water can be used,MoSA always conducts quality and suitability tests to ensure its safety for consumption by the community.