"We have coordinated with several ministries and agencies to find the best solution to handle this outbreak. This is all for the sake of our children," she conveyed in a statement on Monday.
She made this statement while attending a meeting on outbreak mitigation for the MBG food poisoning.
The meeting was held to ensure the implementation of the MBG program prioritizes the fulfillment of children's basic rights to clean, nutritious, and healthy food, as well as guarantees of child protection.
Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, who led the meeting on Sunday, asked the ministerial and agency levels to formulate concrete steps to improve and strengthen MBG implementation.
Several strategic steps were taken: first, temporarily closing Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) suspected of being problematic for a thorough evaluation and investigation.
Second, evaluating the discipline, quality, and skills of cooks across all SPPGs, not limited to the affected locations.
Third, improving sanitation processes, particularly related to water quality and waste management, which are now monitored nationally.
Fourth, ensuring cross-sectoral involvement, with ministries, institutions, local governments, and stakeholders involved in the program in the improvement process.
Fifth, the mandatory requirement for every SPPG to have a Certificate of Hygiene and Sanitation (SLHS), no longer merely an administrative requirement.
"SLHS is mandatory. Without it, similar incidents could happen again, and we want to avoid that,” Hasan emphasized.
Lastly, the government asked the Minister of Health, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to improve the role of community health centers (Puskesmas) and School Health Units (UKS) to conduct routine and periodic monitoring of MBG implementation in the regions.
"We take all steps transparently to build public trust that MBG food is safe and nutritious for all Indonesian children,” the minister noted.
Regarding the MBG poisoning incidents, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) announced last week that from January to September 2023, there were 70 food safety incidents, including poisoning, affecting 5,914 MBG recipients.
Of these 70 poisoning cases, the primary cause was several types of bacteria found, including E. coli in water, rice, tofu, and chicken.
Furthermore, Staphylococcus aureus in tempeh and meatballs, Salmonella in chicken, eggs, and vegetables, Bacillus cereus in noodles, and coliform, PB, Klebsiella, and Proteus in contaminated water.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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