By: Zidane Ramadhana )*
The Indonesian government through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) continues to strengthen efforts to overcome children’s nutritional problems by launching a strategic program called Free Nutritious Meals (MBG). This program is one of the main solutions to overcome cases of stunting and malnutrition which are still serious challenges for the quality of human resources in the future. Through this initiative, the government is not only targeting the provision of healthy, nutritious food for early childhood, but also seeks to instill a strong foundation for a healthier and more productive future for the nation.
The MBG program is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of children, both those who are in school and those who are not yet students. This step is very important considering that inadequate nutritional conditions will have a direct impact on the development of the child’s body and brain, thus affecting learning ability and productivity in the future. The government understands that handling child nutrition must be carried out consistently and in an integrated manner in order to produce a healthy and intelligent golden generation in 2045, the target of the national development vision that is being fought for.
According to member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Heru Tjahjono, the MBG program is not only an effort to provide free nutritious food, but also a major investment for the Indonesian nation. He considered this program very strategic in reducing stunting rates which are still quite high in several regions, while also providing long-term impacts in the form of improving the quality of human resources. Heru emphasized that nutrition provided regularly to early childhood is the main key to preventing stunting, which if left unchecked will have a negative impact on children’s physical and intellectual development.
In addition, the Deputy for Monitoring and Supervision of the National Nutrition Agency, Meida Octarina, explained that the MBG Program has a broad mission that not only meets children’s nutritional needs, but also encourages local economic growth. In the Blitar Regency area, for example, this program opens up job opportunities for the local community through the involvement of partners who are tasked with providing nutritious food. Meida also stated that Blitar Regency still faces challenges related to the existence of Generic Food Service Units (SPPG) which have not been operating optimally, so that the distribution of program benefits is still uneven. Therefore, the government continues to encourage partners who want to join to register through the official BGN portal online at no cost, in order to accelerate the distribution of the program.
Support from experts is one of the important factors in the success of the MBG program. Head of the Nutrition Installation of Iskak Tulungagung Hospital, Ratih Puspitaningtyas, explained the importance of nutritional balance in the food menu provided. The MBG program not only serves filling food, but also prioritizes balanced nutritional content such as carbohydrates, protein, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats. Ratih emphasized that the collaboration between this program and nutrition experts helps ensure that the food provided can support optimal child growth and a significant reduction in stunting rates. Mentoring from professionals is also continuously carried out to ensure the quality and sustainability of the program.
By providing free nutritious food, the government has succeeded in reducing the burden on families, especially in areas that are still vulnerable to malnutrition. This program provides a practical and effective solution in improving the nutritional quality of children widely. In addition, the socio-economic impact of this program is also felt by the community, especially in areas that previously had difficulty getting access to balanced nutrition. The government realizes that the success of the MBG program will contribute greatly to producing a healthy, intelligent, and competitive generation in the future.
The government’s commitment through MBG is also in line with the national target to reduce stunting rates which has been set as a priority for health and social development. Providing adequate and quality nutrition in childhood is very important because this period is the golden period of growth that determines health and intelligence conditions in the next stage. The government also continues to improve supervision and evaluation of program implementation so that the desired achievements can be met optimally.
Furthermore, collaboration between the central government, regional governments, and partners is key to the success of the program. The involvement of local communities in providing nutritious food while creating new economic opportunities adds positive value overall. In addition, information technology and online partner registration mechanisms facilitate the administration process and increase program transparency. This supports the government’s efforts to expand the reach of the program and ensure that all Indonesian children can enjoy its benefits.
Overall, the Free Nutritious Meals program proves the government’s strong commitment to addressing the problem of child nutrition, which has long been one of the challenges of development. By presenting integrated, sustainable, and collaboration-based solutions, the government has succeeded in building a strong foundation for a healthier and more competitive future for Indonesia. This program not only solves the problem of nutrition, but also strengthens the spirit of social justice and improves the quality of life of the community as a whole.
)* The author is a public policy observer
