In a pioneering collaboration, British software firm Skyral has joined forces with the Indonesian government to address the pressing issue of child stunting. Employing advanced modelling and simulation technology, this initiative aims to accelerate stunting reduction efforts, achieving results up to 50 times faster than traditional methods.
Stunting, a condition resulting from chronic malnutrition during a child’s formative years, affects over 15 million Indonesian children under the age of five—accounting for more than 20% of the nation’s young population. Despite ongoing interventions, recent years have seen only a modest annual reduction rate of 0.1%. However, Skyral’s innovative approach projects a potential annual reduction of 4.8% in the coming years.
The programme was officially launched at the ‘Collaboration and Precision Policy Showcase Pilot’, where Imam Machdi, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the transformative potential of Skyral’s technology in reshaping public health strategies.
Skyral’s advanced modelling and simulation platform has already yielded significant insights during the programme’s initial phase. By simulating thousands of scenarios encompassing factors such as nutrition, education, and healthcare, the technology offers a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted causes of stunting.
Jason Kennedy, CEO and Co-Founder of Skyral, remarked, “This partnership represents a quantum leap in our approach to public health challenges, leveraging innovative technology to deliver real human impact. Conventional methods are falling short, and our global community deserves better. By harnessing the power of modelling and simulation software, we have demonstrated potential pathways to reduce stunting 50 times faster, providing the much-needed assistance.”
One notable outcome from Skyral’s simulations is the enhancement of nutritional strategies. By increasing kitchen yields, extending food preservation times, and optimising delivery routes in traffic-congested areas, the projected number of meals increased by 70%, equating to an additional 1.4 million meals per day.
Furthermore, the platform’s analysis of healthcare infrastructure revealed that a strategic combination of permanent healthcare centres and mobile units could achieve a maximum potential stunting reduction of 4.8%, a substantial improvement over the previous 0.1% annual reduction achieved through conventional methods.
Imam Machdi emphasised the importance of this technological advancement, stating, “The key challenge in tackling stunting is building convergent policies. With this technology, we can precisely monitor multiple interventions simultaneously, laying a foundation for evidence-based policymaking in stunting prevention.”
This collaboration underscores the critical role of innovative technology in addressing complex public health issues. By integrating advanced modelling and simulation tools, policymakers can devise more targeted and effective strategies, ultimately improving the quality of life for millions of children.
For more information, visit: www.skyral.com
