During a public dialogue in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, on Saturday (May 10), he pointed out that the primary objectives of the MBG program are to improve nutritional intake and combat childhood stunting.
"A study by the World Bank in 2024 shows that the provision of nutritious meals helps increase children's school attendance and participation while reducing malnutrition or stunting cases," he noted in a statement cited here on Sunday.
He then added that the program--which targets schoolchildren, toddlers, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women--also promises far-reaching positive impacts on the national economy in addition to its human development goals.
"This program is also aimed at empowering micro, small and medium enterprises, which, in turn, will pave the way for a more inclusive economy," he remarked at the event, which focused on disseminating information on the initiative.
On the same occasion, a representative from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Mochamad Halim corroborated the lawmaker's statements, noting that the MBG program is directed towards shooting up the quality of Indonesian human resources through nutritional reform.
He argued that special attention to food and nutritional quality is key for Indonesia to produce a generation of healthier and more competitive talents, aligning with the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.
Earlier, on May 4, BGN Head Dadan Hindayana underlined that the MBG program haD reached around 3.3 million beneficiaries nationwide since its launch in January, achieving the target set for its initial phase.
He noted that the next goal is to increase the program’s reach to over 4 million recipients by opening new kitchens throughout May.
“We are striving to bring this program to 6 million beneficiaries by the end of May or early June,” Hindayana after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto in Bogor, West Java.
He also praised the involvement of Indonesian Development Pioneer Scholars (SPPI), stating that once their training is complete, they will help expand the program’s coverage to 20 million beneficiaries by August.
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Translator: M. Darwin, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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