Jakarta – The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) which has been running for several months in several remote schools in Indonesia has received appreciation from various groups.
This program is considered important in efforts to improve the quality of Human Resources (HR), towards a Golden Indonesia, while also driving the economy.
Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia and Director of the Postgraduate Program at Yarsi University, Prof. dr. Chandra Yoga Aditama, stated that nutritious food is an important component for health.
“One of the factors of a clean and healthy lifestyle is nutritious food. Nutritious food will be a very important element for health, and if provided in schools, it will certainly support the education process,” said Prof. Chandra.
Furthermore, he said that this free nutritious meal program has been running in several remote schools in the country. This program has received a positive response from parents, considering that everyone needs good nutritional intake. However, Prof. Chandra emphasized that the priority for implementing this program should be given to children in remote and isolated areas with minimal facilities.
On the other hand, Prof. Chandra also appreciated the food processing method in the MBG program which follows the WHO’s “from farm to plate” concept. According to him, this concept ensures that food quality is maintained starting from the selection of raw materials, storage, shipping, cooking process, to distribution to schools.
“The method used turned out to be better than imagined, so there was not too much waste,” he said.
The MBG program not only aims to improve children’s health, but also has a strategic role in building Indonesia’s golden generation.
“Free nutritious food for all children throughout Indonesia and pregnant women is not a simple thing. It needs the best management so that this good program can be in line with its goal of achieving the children of Golden Indonesia or strengthening our human resources,” said Prof. Chandra.
The MBG program is also considered a form of long-term investment for the Indonesian nation, especially in supporting the priority of human resource development.
According to Prof. Chandra, there are two main factors in human resource development, namely health and education. If both are achieved, then many positive things can be realized, both in personal life, family, nation, and the world.
Through this program, not only children’s health improves, but also the local economy can move because of the utilization of food from local farmers.
With consistent and continuous implementation, the MBG program has the potential to create a healthier, smarter, and more productive generation of Indonesia in the future.
