"This is not an ordinary program. We are talking about pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers, so even a slight mistargeting would have a major impact," he said in Pemalang, Central Java, on Thursday.
He said he visited the area to ensure the program reaches its intended targets, particularly pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.
"Instructions from the central government are clear that quality is now the top priority, so public criticism must continue to be heard and not ignored," Wihaji said.
He noted that there are around 8.6 million families at risk of stunting (KRS), and the MBG program is one of the measures to address the issue.
KRS criteria include toddlers at risk of malnutrition due to environmental factors, such as limited access to clean water, inadequate housing conditions, and poor dietary patterns.
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In Pemalang, Wihaji found that some homes had very close proximity between toilets and kitchens, failing to meet proper standards.
To address this, he said cooperation is being carried out with institutions such as the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) to improve housing and sanitation, while ensuring children's nutritional intake through the program.
During the visit, he said the government aims to reduce the stunting rate to 18.8 percent this year from 19.8 percent previously, and to 14 percent by 2029.
Wihaji warned that the current rate, which is close to 20 percent, remains concerning, meaning that about two in ten toddlers are affected.
"This cannot be left unchecked because it concerns the quality of future generations," he said.
He added that addressing stunting and implementing the MBG program cannot be handled by a single ministry alone.
"The approach used is the pentahelix model, involving the government, communities, businesses, academics, and the media," he said.
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Translator: Kutnadi, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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