Papua – Papuan community leader, Esau Tegai, expressed his appreciation and full support for the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) initiated by the government. According to him, this policy is a strategic step in improving the quality of Papuan human resources (HR), as well as being an important foundation in realizing fair and equitable national development.
“The government has taken the right step by launching the Free Nutritious Meals program. We in Papua are ready to fully support its implementation, because this is a real investment for the future of our children,” said Esau Tegai.
According to Esau, the issue of nutrition is still a serious challenge in various regions in Papua, especially in remote areas that still have difficulty accessing healthy and nutritious food. He emphasized that the MBG program is present as an answer to this gap, by targeting vulnerable groups such as school children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
“Nutrition is a fundamental problem. Without adequate nutrition, children will not grow optimally, both physically and cognitively. In fact, they are the next generation who will advance Papua in the future. Therefore, we are committed to participating in overcoming this problem,” he continued.
He said, MBG is an important part in the effort to realize the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, where Indonesia is targeted to become a developed country with superior, productive, and highly competitive human resources. In the context of Papua, this program is the starting point for equalizing the quality of human development.
“This program is not just about providing food. It is about building the future. We want Papuan children to grow up healthy, enthusiastic about learning, and later be able to compete in various fields,” Esau added.
Esau also underlined the importance of cross-sector cooperation for optimal program implementation. He encouraged local governments, traditional leaders, religious leaders, local communities, and the private sector to work together to make this program a success down to the grassroots level.
“The MBG program requires the involvement of all parties. We must ensure that this assistance is on target and sustainable. Don’t let it stop in the middle of the road. This is a joint effort for the good of our generation,” he said.
With a strong spirit of mutual cooperation and collaboration, Esau Tegai is confident that the MBG program will have a positive impact on the Papuan people. He hopes that this program will be the beginning of various more inclusive and equitable human development initiatives in Bumi Cenderawasih.
“This program is an important milestone. We all have a role to play in making it a success. For a healthy, intelligent, and prosperous Papua,” he concluded.
