Govt reviews MBG governance, prioritizes vulnerable groups

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is reviewing the governance of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to ensure a more targeted approach, with priority given to the 3B group (pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers) and communities in 3T (underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost) areas.

The head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom), Muhammad Qodari, said the focus on the 3B group is being pursued as providing nutrition to this group is considered the most effective way to prevent and reduce stunting.

"This is where stunting intervention is deemed effective," he noted in a statement on Friday.

The government is also prioritizing the 3T areas in MBG distribution, which have faced various limitations in access and resources.

According to Qodari, the MBG program has delivered tangible benefits to the community, with meals provided daily throughout the school year.

Going forward, he said the government is optimistic that the ongoing improvements will further enhance the quality of the program's implementation, from its nutritional value to the hygiene of meals provided to beneficiaries.

He added that President Prabowo Subianto has also mandated the new leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to organize and strengthen the governance of the MBG program.

Furthermore, Qodari mentioned that the program's evaluation and development also involve various parties, including the National Economic Council (DEN).

He stated that BGN has presented a number of planned changes to the DEN to obtain constructive input.

Qodari noted that feedback from the DEN is essential to the evaluation process since the council had surveyed 800 MBG kitchens or SPPG to gather insights into the program's implementation.

"(The DEN survey) can provide a snapshot of the population, and these findings can certainly provide input for the new BGN leadership," he remarked.

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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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