Jakarta – The government has directed the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program by prioritizing the 3B group—pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. The policy initiated by the administration of Prabowo Subianto aims to strengthen national nutrition interventions from the earliest stages of life.
Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sony Sonjaya, called on MBG partners to prioritize the program for the vulnerable 3B group, emphasizing that it relates directly to the first 1,000 days of life.
“So we can see that even from the womb, in the form of a fetus, the government has already paid attention. Therefore, the mindset must first be aligned that those who should receive free nutritious meals are the 3B group. This should be prioritized, not by first going to schools to collect beneficiary data and establishing cooperation,” he explained.
According to Sony, there has been a misconception that the MBG program only refers to school lunch initiatives. In fact, the 3B group is also a major concern for the government in order to ensure proper nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.
Thus, the 3B group has become the government’s primary focus in receiving the benefits of the MBG program, followed by students in schools. Sony added that this understanding forms part of the government’s broader strategy to prepare Indonesia’s human resources for 2045.
“Why is that? Because this is not merely about providing meals, but about planning Indonesia’s future. We are preparing for 2045 starting from now,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Population and Family Development and Head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Wihaji, highlighted the important role of the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in overseeing the distribution of MBG for the 3B group. He emphasized that the MBG program for 3B is intended to support the sustainable growth and development of Indonesia’s future generations.
“What has already been implemented must continue to be closely monitored so that MBG for the 3B group truly reaches pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers outside early childhood education (non-PAUD) as the intended beneficiaries,” Wihaji stated.
According to him, the success of the program largely depends on strict supervision in the field. This is crucial to ensure that every portion of nutritious food reaches those who truly need it.
Wihaji also called on the Indonesian public to appreciate the national nutrition improvement program, noting that the MBG initiative for the 3B group is the only program of its kind in the world.
He added that the successful implementation of the MBG program for 3B requires strong synergy between the central government and regional administrations. Such collaboration is essential to ensure that the program runs effectively and reaches families across various regions.
“This program requires cooperation between ministries at the central level and regional governments,” Wihaji concluded.