He spotlighted the importance of the President’s flagship initiative in his speech at an event to promote the Family Development, Population, and Family Planning (Bangga Kencana) program in Manado City, North Sulawesi, on Friday (October 10).
"By extending the MBG program to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and unenrolled toddlers, Mr. President demonstrates the government’s care for the nutritional intake of families," Wihaji remarked, as cited in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
The minister noted that the MBG program is essentially designed to boost public health starting from families or households, which he described as the main pillar of national development.
"This country will advance if its families are of high quality," he said.
He explained that the Ministry of Population and Family Development is tasked with driving improvements in family and population quality, including by curbing childhood stunting, encouraging marriage at the ideal age, and promoting nutrition fulfillment.
Wihaji underscored the need to carefully nurture children in their first 1,000 days of life to enable them to grow mentally and physically in an optimal manner, stressing the importance of meeting their nutritional needs.
He also encouraged parents to intensify positive, affectionate interaction with their children and ensure that they do not spend excessive time on gadgets, noting that this approach is equally important for their growth.
Also present at the event, Speaker of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) Felly Estelita Runtuwene highlighted the urgency to protect Indonesian children from stunting in a bid to nurture a generation of quality talents for the nation.
"We must see stunting as an issue of common concern because it is not only about the height of children but also about how to ensure they can grow smart, healthy, and productive," she said.
Launched on January 6 this year, the MBG program has so far catered to over 30 million residents nationwide. The broader target is to expand the program to at least 83 million people by the end of 2025.
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Translator: Lintang B, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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