Langkah Kecil, Dampak Besar di Kuto Batu

Pagi itu, suasana Posyandu Kuto Batu perlahan menjadi hidup. Terik matahari belum begitu menyengat, tapi para ibu sudah mulai berdatangan dengan anak-anak mereka. Di antara tawa kecil dan suara riuh balita yang berlarian, seorang kader posyandu tampak sibuk menyiapkan alat timbang, mencatat nama-nama, dan menyapa dengan senyum tulus. Ia bukan hanya seorang kader. Ia adalah penggerak, penjaga harapan, dan sahabat bagi para ibu yang ingin memastikan anak-anak mereka tumbuh sehat.

Salah satu ibu datang dengan membawa anak laki-laki berusia setahun. Ia masih muda, namun matanya menyimpan tekad kuat. “Saya ingin anak saya tumbuh baik, jangan sampai terkena stunting seperti keponakan saya dulu,” ucapnya. Bagi banyak ibu seperti dia, posyandu bukan sekadar tempat menimbang anak—tetapi ruang belajar, tempat bertanya, dan sumber kekuatan.

Dan di tengah perjuangan ini, Rotary Club Palembang hadir—bukan sekadar sebagai pendukung program, tetapi sebagai sahabat dan katalis perubahan. Dalam program Ayo Cegah Stunting tahap keempat, Rotary menggandeng para kader posyandu dan masyarakat untuk menghadirkan intervensi nyata. Sebanyak 20 anak di bawah usia dua tahun serta ibu hamil terpilih sebagai penerima manfaat. Selama enam bulan penuh, mereka menerima makanan tambahan bergizi yang disiapkan dengan cermat: bubur bergizi, telur rebus, buah segar, dan susu, semua diberikan untuk memastikan asupan gizi seimbang di masa-masa krusial tumbuh kembang.

Namun bantuan tak berhenti di sana. Rotary juga memberikan penyuluhan rutin tentang pentingnya gizi, pola makan, kebersihan lingkungan, hingga stimulasi tumbuh kembang anak. Para ibu mulai memahami bahwa memberi makan anak bukan hanya soal kenyang, tapi soal kualitas. Para kader pun semakin percaya diri dalam menyampaikan informasi, karena mereka didampingi dan dilatih secara konsisten.

Kebersamaan inilah yang membuat perubahan terasa nyata. Berat badan balita mulai naik sesuai grafik pertumbuhan. Anak-anak terlihat lebih aktif dan ceria. Para ibu kini lebih terbuka, saling berbagi pengalaman, dan mendukung satu sama lain. Dan yang paling menggembirakan, semangat gotong royong tumbuh kembali. Masyarakat mulai sadar bahwa stunting bukan hanya urusan keluarga, tapi tanggung jawab bersama.

Bagi Rotary Club Palembang, keberhasilan program ini bukan hanya diukur dari angka, tetapi dari senyum yang kembali merekah, dari ibu-ibu yang merasa tidak lagi sendiri, dan dari kader yang merasa usahanya dihargai.

Di tengah lorong-lorong sempit dan rumah-rumah sederhana Kuto Batu, harapan tumbuh bersama gerakan kecil yang dilakukan dengan hati besar. Rotary hadir sebagai teman seperjalanan, memberi dorongan, mendengar, dan bergerak bersama.

Mari ikut ambil bagian. Bersama Rotary, kita bisa mewujudkan generasi yang lebih sehat dan kuat. Karena mencegah stunting bukan hanya soal program, tetapi tentang cinta, kolaborasi, dan keyakinan bahwa setiap anak layak memiliki masa depan yang cerah.

---

Small Steps, Big Impact in Kuto Batu

That morning, the atmosphere at the Kuto Batu Posyandu gradually came alive. The sun hadn’t yet reached its peak, but mothers were already arriving with their little ones in tow. Amid the laughter of toddlers and the rustle of tiny footsteps, a dedicated health volunteer was busy preparing the weighing scale, noting down names, and greeting each visitor with a warm smile. She wasn’t just a cadre — she was a mover of hope, a guide, and a friend to mothers who wanted the best for their children.

One young mother came carrying her one-year-old son. Her eyes revealed quiet determination. “I want my child to grow strong and healthy. I don’t want him to suffer from stunting like my nephew did,” she shared. For many mothers like her, the posyandu isn’t just a place to monitor growth — it’s a space of learning, asking, and healing.

Amid this shared struggle, Rotary Club of Palembang stepped in — not merely as a supporter, but as a true companion and catalyst for change. Through the fourth phase of the Let’s Prevent Stunting movement, Rotary collaborated with posyandu cadres and the local community to create real impact. Twenty beneficiaries — children under two years old and pregnant women — were provided with daily nutritious food for six consecutive months. Carefully prepared meals like fortified porridge, boiled eggs, fresh fruit, and milk were given to ensure balanced nutrition during this critical growth period.

But the program didn’t stop at food distribution. Rotary also facilitated regular education sessions on balanced nutrition, hygiene, proper parenting, and early stimulation. Mothers began to understand that feeding a child isn’t just about fullness — it’s about nourishment. Cadres, empowered with new knowledge, became more confident in guiding their communities.

This sense of shared purpose sparked visible change. Children’s weights began to rise along healthy growth charts. They appeared more active, their eyes brighter, and their laughter louder. Mothers opened up to one another, exchanging stories and encouragement. The spirit of cooperation was reborn — a powerful reminder that preventing stunting is a collective responsibility.

For the Rotary Club of Palembang, the success of this program isn’t just measured in numbers, but in smiles rekindled, in mothers who no longer feel alone, and in volunteers who feel seen and supported.

In the narrow alleys and modest homes of Kuto Batu, hope is growing — nurtured by small steps made with big hearts. Rotary walks this journey hand in hand with the community, offering support, listening with compassion, and moving forward together.

Come be part of the movement. Together with Rotary, we can prevent stunting and build a healthier, stronger generation. Because preventing stunting isn’t just about a program — it’s about love, collaboration, and the belief that every child deserves a bright future.