Septi's mother Ana Fitriani, 20, her grandfather Albertus Hadat, 69, and her grandmother Regina Imbong, 59, were alarmed that their first child and grandchild might be malnourished. But a far-reaching, more pressing threat was lurking.

That threat is a difficult-to-assess chronic condition called stunting. What the chart says about Septi's stature carries more weight than just numbers or physical stature. If Septi is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median when she reaches her second year, she is considered stunted.

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Stunting can limit a child's learning capacity, cognitive skills and immune system and can lead to a higher chance chronic diseases, causing a lasting, sometimes intergenerational impact.

But the word stunting is unfamiliar to locals, let alone its future ramifications. Septi’s grandmother Regina admitted that she had only recently learned the dangers of stunting.

The risk of not knowing

"I'm upset," said Septi’s mother Ana. "I am now aware that my child is not growing as she's supposed to be, and I am very worried.”

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