Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has asked Free\nNutritious Meal Service Units (SPPG) to prioritize pregnant women,\nbreastfeeding mothers, and toddlers \u2014 collectively known as the 3B group\n\u2014 under the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) before targeting schools\nand students.<\/p>\n
This emphasis is considered important as there are still differing\ninterpretations in the field. During the early stages of SPPG\nestablishment, some partners immediately formed partnerships with\nschools, when in fact, newly built SPPG kitchens should first ensure\ncoverage of the 3B group.<\/p>\n
\u201cI must stress this point because there are differences in\nunderstanding. When an SPPG was newly built, there were even partners\nwho actively established partnerships with schools right away. In\nreality, when a kitchen is newly built by a partner, the first priority\nshould be finding these vulnerable groups \u2014 toddlers, pregnant women,\nand breastfeeding mothers. They must come first,\u201d said BGN Deputy Chief\nSony Sonjaya in an official statement in Jakarta on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Sony also noted that the MBG Program has an advantage over practices\nin many other countries, as more than 77 countries only implement school\nmeals, whereas Indonesia is a pioneer in providing meals for the 3B\ngroup.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndonesia doesn\u2019t just do school meals \u2014 it\u2019s school meals plus,\nbecause we also think about the 3B group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that Indonesia is one of the countries innovating by\ndelivering nutritious meals directly to the homes of pregnant women,\nbreastfeeding mothers, and toddlers through the support of posyandu\n(community health post) volunteers. This is based on the importance of\nthe first 1,000 days of life, as the MBG Program is not merely a food\ndistribution program but a long-term investment in preparing for Golden\nIndonesia 2045.<\/p>\n
Sony also said the program is shifting public mindsets. Children\nacross Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua, are beginning to understand that\nnutritious food must contain complete elements \u2014 carbohydrates, protein,\nfiber, and vitamins.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mindset of Indonesians is changing. Previously, people didn\u2019t\npay attention to what their food contained. Now children are starting to\nsee \u2014 from Aceh to Papua, from villages to metropolitan areas \u2014 that a\nmeal should contain four elements: carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and\nvitamins,\u201d Sony said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bgn-asks-sppg-to-prioritize-mbg-for-3b-before-targeting-schools-1771162539", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }