"The data collection process is still underway. We are currently waiting for a letter or official guidance from the central government," West Papua Acting Governor Ali Baham Temongmere remarked in Manokwari District on Monday.
He affirmed that the provincial government would collaborate with the district governments of Manokwari, South Manokwari, Pegunungan Arfak, Teluk Bintuni, Teluk Wondama, Kaimana, and Fakfak to collect accurate data and ensure the success of the lunch program.
Temongmere also said he views the lunch program as being congruent with similar programs aimed at alleviating childhood stunting or chronic malnutrition.
He remarked that his side had been promoting the implementation of the Diverse, Nutritionally Balanced, and Safe (B2SA) Food Program to encourage residents to prioritize cooking and consume healthy meals for the sake of future generations.
The acting governor explained that the B2SA Food Program is being echoed by organizing routine educational activities, such as a cooking competition that promotes the use of non-rice local food materials.
"For instance, people can creatively cook dishes using tubers, corn, bananas, breadfruit, sago, vegetables, fruits, beans, and various materials from animals," he remarked.
He then emphasized the need for people's creativity to process local food ingredients into a variety of meals, considering the popularity of such ingredients is still overshadowed by modern ready-to-eat dishes.
Temongmere further affirmed that nutritious meals are paramount to augmenting the quality of human resources in Indonesia's Papua region.
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Translator: Fransiskus S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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