By: Nina Herlina Pitaloka )*
The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program continues to show significant development with increasingly wider coverage throughout Indonesia. To date, the program has been running in 38 provinces and reached more than two million beneficiaries. This step is a real manifestation of equal access to nutrition for the community and part of the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of the nation’s next generation.
The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that this success was the result of cooperation between various parties in ensuring that the implementation of MBG runs optimally. Dadan said that along with the increasing number of nutrition fulfillment service units, this program will increasingly reach more beneficiaries, including in areas that have not been previously touched. With 693 active service units, the distribution of nutritious food is increasingly even and effective in meeting the needs of school children.
The government also ensures that the MBG program continues to run during the month of Ramadan (fasting) by adjusting the food distribution mechanism. This adjustment is made so that children who are fasting can consume nutritious food when breaking the fast, while those who are not fasting still get benefits according to their nutritional needs. The types of food provided are also adjusted to last longer, including milk, boiled eggs, dates, cookies, and fruit, without neglecting the balance of protein, carbohydrate, and fiber content.
In various regions, the MBG program has received a positive response and full support from various elements of society. The Chairman of the West Java DPRD, Buky Wibawa, emphasized that this program is a strategic step in improving the nutritional quality of school children in his area. Although it requires a large budget, this program is considered a long-term investment to create a healthy and intelligent generation. In West Java itself, preparations for the expansion of the MBG program have entered the optimal stage with strict monitoring to ensure that the nutritional standards set by the National Nutrition Agency can be implemented properly.
Buky also highlighted the economic impact of this program, where every nutritious kitchen that operates is required to empower food sources from the local community within a radius of four kilometers. This policy not only ensures the sustainability of the supply of nutritious food for school children, but also has a positive impact on the local economy by involving farmers, livestock breeders, and small business actors.
In West Kalimantan, the MBG program has also targeted 154 schools, from Kindergarten to High School. Head of the West Kalimantan Education and Culture Office, Rita Hastarita, said that this program has been almost evenly distributed across all districts and cities in the region. With the operation of 28 kitchens supporting the MBG program in West Kalimantan, it is hoped that all students in the province can immediately feel the benefits of this program. Periodic evaluations continue to be carried out to improve the effectiveness of the program and ensure that all operating kitchens are able to optimally meet children’s nutritional needs.
The government, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, has shown full commitment to ensuring the sustainability and expansion of the MBG program as part of the grand vision of Golden Indonesia. By providing access to nutritious food to children from an early age, this program not only contributes to reducing malnutrition rates but also to building a more productive and competitive generation in the future.
In addition to being a form of fulfilling children’s nutritional needs, the MBG program also has an educational role in teaching the importance of a healthy diet. Through various initiatives, such as the use of environmentally friendly packaging that must be exchanged every day, children are taught to be more disciplined and care about the environment. This step is expected to instill good habits that they will carry into adulthood.
The main challenge in implementing this program is ensuring the availability of adequate budget and infrastructure in all regions. Local governments in various provinces continue to strive to optimize existing budgets and resources so that the MBG program can run sustainably. With good coordination between the central and regional governments, this challenge is believed to be overcome gradually.
The success of the MBG program so far proves that collaboration between the government, private sector, and the community can create real solutions to improve the quality of life of Indonesian children. Full support from all parties is a key factor in ensuring the sustainability of this program. Therefore, it is hoped that more parties will participate in making this initiative a success, both through direct contributions and policy support that strengthens the implementation of the program in various regions.
With a wide coverage continues to expand, the MBG program not only plays a role in meeting children’s nutritional needs, but also becomes an important instrument in realizing social justice in the health sector. This program is real proof that every Indonesian child has the right to access healthy and nutritious food, without exception. In the future, it is hoped that the reach of MBG can be even wider until it truly reaches all children in need throughout the country. )* The Author is a Public Policy Observer
