Harita Nickel has recorded a significant milestone in reducing stunting within its operational area. Through the Soligi Zero Stunting program, 21 out of 25 children in Soligi Village, Obi Island, South Halmahera, have successfully overcome stunting and shown improvement in their nutritional status.
This achievement, recorded as of mid-2025, confirms the effectiveness of an integrated approach involving the company and relevant stakeholders in efforts to reduce stunting rates in a sustainable manner.
Harita Nickel Community Development Manager Broto Suworso explained that the Soligi Zero Stunting program has been running since 2022, combining nutritional interventions, health education, and strengthening community health services. "This success is the result of teamwork. We believe that children's health is an important foundation for a stronger and more prosperous future," he said.
The Soligi Zero Stunting Program includes the provision of supplementary food (PMT) based on local food sources, training for community health center (Posyandu) workers, the construction of auxiliary health centers (PUSTU), and the provision of communal clean water wells. All activities are carried out in a participatory manner, involving the community as the main agents of change.
The spearhead of this program's implementation is the Soligi Village posyandu cadres, who play a direct role in assisting families and monitoring child growth and development. Murni, one of the posyandu workers and program initiators, explained that posyandu activities are carried out regularly every month through weighing, measuring children, and distributing supplementary food.
“We also proactively visit the homes of toddlers at risk of stunting and provide counseling to mothers so that they pay attention to their children's nutrition and regularly check their pregnancies at the health center," she said.
"We also proactively visit the homes of toddlers at risk of stunting and provide counseling to mothers to pay attention to their children's nutrition and regularly check their pregnancies at the health center," said Murni. According to her, the most noticeable change is the decrease in the number of children with stunting and malnutrition, from 25 children to now only 4 children. "Our hope is that next year it will be zero, and the children of Soligi will grow up healthier," she emphasized.
In addition to strengthening basic health services, this program also builds community capacity. A total of 13 posyandu workers have been trained in child growth and development monitoring, 354 children have received assistance, and more than 300 supplementary food packages have been distributed to support improvements in family nutrition.
For its impact and innovation, the Soligi Zero Stunting program won the 2025 Subroto Award from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in the category of Most Innovative Community Development and Empowerment Program (PPM) for Mineral Commodities in the field of Health. This award recognizes Harita Nickel's contribution to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the national policy aimed at accelerating the reduction of stunting.
The sustainability of the program is also a key focus. The village government is committed to allocating funds for PUSTU operations and maintenance of clean water facilities. At the same time, PUSTU is being developed as an integrated health service center, complete with a child-friendly park and a family medicinal garden (TOGA).
Harita Nickel also implements stunting-reduction programs in other villages surrounding its operational area on Obi Island, in collaboration with local government and community stakeholders.
Through the success of Soligi Zero Stunting, Harita Nickel has demonstrated that a collaborative, community-based approach can be an effective solution in overcoming stunting in remote areas.