By: Yonas Wambraw )*
Efforts to create a healthy, intelligent, and competitive Papuan generation require synergy between targeted policies and strong community support. The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is one of the concrete steps taken by the government to ensure the future of Papuan children from an early age. This program has received a warm welcome from various traditional and community leaders in Papua, as a form of trust and hope for a brighter future for the Land of Papua.
In Waropen Regency, a community leader from the Wonti area, Kaleb Woisiri, has shown his commitment to supporting the MBG Program. Known as a nationalist figure and a mover of community aspirations, Kaleb Woisiri is currently designing an economic empowerment initiative for the Waropen community that is lagging behind in terms of development. For him, MBG is an important support in this effort, because improving the nutritional quality of the younger generation is the foundation of human resource progress. The support he provides is not only moral, but also accompanied by active encouragement to integrate this program into Waropen’s long-term development strategy.
Meanwhile, in Keerom Regency, the voice of support is increasingly echoing. The Elseng Tribe Chief in Skanto District, Ismail Ulof, hopes that the MBG program will soon be implemented evenly in Keerom, including in the Skanto area. According to him, fulfilling nutrition for OAP (Indigenous Papuans) is very important so that future generations can grow strong, healthy, and have high competitiveness. Ismail Ulof assessed that the sustainability of this program is very much needed and he is ready to support its sustainability so that its benefits can be felt in the long term.
Similar support came from Ondoafi Kampung Senggi, Matias Manggu, who expressed his full support for the MBG Program. He assessed that this program is a form of real government concern for the future of Papuan children. Matias Manggu also expressed his readiness to participate in overseeing the implementation of this program, so that it can run smoothly and provide maximum benefits for the Keerom community, especially in Senggi District.
In Sarmi Regency, enthusiasm for the MBG program was reflected in the statement of Billy Kreuw, the Manirem Tribe Chief from East Sarmi District.
He emphasized that government policies that side with the people, especially children, deserve full support. According to Billy Kreuw, the MBG program provides real benefits in supporting the growth and education of children in Sarmi. He actively encourages the community to participate and maintain the sustainability of this program as part of a joint effort to advance the region.
The Head of the Sobey Tribe and member of the Sarmi Regency People’s Representative Council (DPRK), Sarmi Adolf Wersementawar, said the same thing. He sees MBG as a progressive policy that is in line with the needs of indigenous peoples.
In his view, this program has succeeded in answering the challenges faced by the community in the fields of nutrition and education. Adolf Wersementawar emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, indigenous peoples, and stakeholders so that the implementation of the program can be effective and sustainable. He also expressed his readiness to continue to oversee the policy in his capacity as a legislator, to ensure that public policies always side with the interests of the wider community.
From the Yapen Islands Regency, the Secretary General of the Yapen Customary Council from the Onate Tribe, Alex Sangganefa, expressed his enthusiastic views. He considered that the MBG program must be maintained and supported by all parties because of its very positive impact on the Papuan people, especially children. Alex believes that consistency and commitment in implementing this program will bring major changes to the quality of life of indigenous people in the Yapen Islands.
Support from traditional leaders also flowed from Jayapura City. Ondoafi Nafri and Chair of the Port Numbay Traditional Community Institution (LMA), George Arnold Awi, who considered the MBG Program as an important breakthrough in improving the quality of life of Papuan children. This program is believed to help reduce stunting rates, meet children’s nutritional needs, and ease the economic burden on families. George Arnold Awi believes that the MBG program is a long-term investment for a more prosperous and empowered future for Papua.
The positive response from various traditional leaders and Papuan communities to the MBG Program indicates the success of the government’s participatory and responsive approach. This support reflects the public’s trust that the state is present and cares about the future of the young generation of Papua. When traditional leaders unite to support strategic programs such as MBG, implementation in the field will be easier to accept and run optimally.
This momentum needs to be maintained and strengthened. Collaboration between the government and community leaders must continue to be improved so that every development policy can run in harmony withwith local wisdom and the real needs of the community. With the right policies and strong support, the future of Papua is not only a hope, but a reality that can be felt by every child in the Land of Papua.
The support of Papuan traditional leaders for the MBG Program is not just a form of appreciation, but also a symbol of synergy between local values and the vision of national development. When traditional leaders stand at the forefront of supporting strategic programs such as MBG, social transformation becomes faster because it is rooted in a strong social structure.
)* The author is an observer of Papuan development
