Government Strengthens Family Planning and MBG Synergy to Improve Regional Nutritional Quality

By: Florensa Flobamora (*
 
Efforts to improve the nutritional quality of the community in Indonesia are entering a new, more integrated phase, particularly through collaboration between the Family Planning (KB) program and the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) scheme. The government, through various ministries and institutions, is now placing cross-sectoral collaboration as the primary foundation for accelerating nutritional improvements, reducing stunting, and strengthening family health. This approach reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that nutrition interventions do not operate in isolation but are integrated with comprehensive family development.
 
The Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development/Deputy Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka, emphasized that this strengthened synergy is not merely an idea but has been incorporated into the MBG program design. She explained that 10 percent of the MBG allocation is provided to the BKKBN in collaboration with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). This portion is specifically directed to support three main target groups: 3B: pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. non-PAUD.

According to him, the selection of these three groups was based on the urgency of nutritional interventions during the golden period of child development. The National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) has also prepared various strategies to ensure effective and targeted distribution of MBG (National Child Development Program) to group 3B. One of these strategies is ensuring comprehensive family data collection. This data collection serves as the basis for determining beneficiary families, especially those at a higher risk of stunting. This way, nutrition programs can directly target those most in need.

At the regional level, these integrative efforts are already beginning to be seen. The Acting Head of the BKKBN Central Java Representative Office, Brigadier General Hery Wiyanto, stated that MBG for group 3B will be a primary focus in the coming year. However, he added that the success of improving nutrition cannot be separated from the success of the Family Planning program itself. Therefore, targeting of Long-Term Contraceptive Methods (MKJP) and postpartum family planning needs to be continuously strengthened.

According to Hery, addressing various family nutrition and health issues varies from region to region. Challenges facing adolescents, for example, require specific educational interventions. This education is not only the work area of ​​the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), but also requires synergy from various other agencies. He cited, for example, education on stunting that can be expanded through the Genting (Foster Parents’ Movement to Prevent Stunting) program, which encourages participation from the community, the business world, and local governments. Through this collaboration, nutritional support and understanding can be more equitably distributed.

In East Lombok, this collaborative strategy is already underway through the involvement of the Family Support Team (TPK). The Head of the East Lombok DP3AKB Office, Dr. Hasbi Santoso, revealed that his office is currently optimizing the role of the TPK to ensure the success of the MBG 3B program. The TPK is at the forefront of identifying nutritional needs, monitoring the development of pregnant women and toddlers, and providing direct nutrition education in the field.

The 3B program in East Lombok also received additional support through a team visit from the Ministry and the BKKBN to Sembalun District. As a center for producing nutritious food, Sembalun is considered strategic for developing a potential-based nutritional fulfillment model. The visit focused on exploring barriers to implementing the MBG program and formulating the most effective and sustainable strategies. This approach demonstrates that efforts to meet nutritional needs do not rely solely on food distribution, but also target strengthening local food sources as part of national nutritional security.

These steps demonstrate that the government is not only providing assistance but also building a system that enables nutrition improvement to be sustainable and adaptive to regional needs. The integration of family planning, nutrition education, and the MBG program is crucial, considering that the nutrition challenges in Indonesia cannot be addressed by one sector alone. There needs to be a connection between family planning, strengthening health services, fulfilling nutritional needs, community education, and empowering food-producing regions.

Furthermore, the MBG program, integrated with family planning, has strategic value in expanding the scope of education on reproductive health, family planning, and balanced nutrition for mothers and children. By ensuring that every family understands the importance of healthy parenting, the benefits of the nutrition program will be more long-term, not just immediate. This collaborative model is ideal for replication in other regions, especially those with high levels of nutritional vulnerability.

Ultimately, the success of the MBG program is largely determined by the support of all stakeholders. parties—government, society, and local communities. Therefore, there needs to be a joint effort to expand the reach of this program so that its benefits are more evenly distributed. By strengthening collaboration between family planning, nutrition, and family empowerment, communities can move towards a healthier, more empowered, and better-quality future. The MBG program is not just food aid, but a long-term investment for a smarter and stronger generation of Indonesians. Let’s work together to support the implementation of MBG so that it reaches a wider audience, is more equitable, and further improves the nutritional quality of families throughout Indonesia.
 
(* The author is a nutrition observer from Flores.