Ministry Director of Environmental Health Dr. Then Suyanti emphasized the need to expand outreach for the capacity-building initiative, noting that only about 224,000 people - or 33 percent of the quota -have accessed the training, which is intended to enhance compliance with MBG food safety standards.
“This quota will remain available through the end of the year. Our training is free of charge and accessible 24 hours a day through a digital platform,” she said in a food and nutrition dialogue forum observed online from Jakarta on Saturday.
Suyanti explained that the food handling training is accessible via the ministry’s learning management system portal Plataran Sehat, adopting a massive open online course mechanism.
Under the program, she added, food handlers are offered eight hours of standardized lessons covering food safety policies, personal hygiene, and equipment sanitation.
She noted that the training is a prerequisite for SPPGs to obtain hygiene and sanitation certificates.
“There is no reason for food handlers to opt out of training. We have urged SPPG leaders or foundations operating the kitchens to facilitate their workers’ access to the learning materials in case of low technological proficiency,” the director said.
Elaborating further, Suyanti underscored that the training system enables participants to repeatedly revisit lessons and tests until they meet passing requirements.
“Our goal is to ensure that food handlers across Indonesia can access the training without having to dwell on cost and distance hurdles,” she emphasized.
She added that the Health Ministry uses the program to accelerate certification for about 26,000 MBG kitchens already established nationwide.
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Translator: M. Riezko, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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