Batam (ANTARA) \u2013 The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in Batam,\nRiau Islands, has served 334,763 beneficiaries, or about 94% of the\ntotal potential of 355,252 people.<\/p>\n
Defri Frenaldi, regional coordinator for Batam\u2019s Nutrition Fulfilment\nService Units (SPPG), said beneficiaries include students, toddlers,\npregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, teachers and education staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total number of beneficiaries currently stands at 334,763, or\naround 94% of Batam\u2019s potential beneficiaries,\u201d Defri said when\ncontacted in Batam on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
By group, the programme serves 18,102 kindergarten and early\nchildhood education pupils, 130,677 primary school pupils, 59,242 junior\nsecondary pupils, and 49,102 senior secondary and vocational school\npupils.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 3B beneficiary group comprises 3,411 pregnant women, 10,551\nbreastfeeding mothers and 42,141 toddlers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The programme is supported by 138 SPPG units currently in operation\nin Batam.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are 138 active units in total. Another 10 were launched\nsimultaneously nationwide on 14 October. Those 10 had not yet started\nserving meals at that time because of Batam\u2019s learn-from-home policy,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He added that eight SPPG units have had their operations suspended to\ndate.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne unit in Nongsa subdistrict was suspended following an\nextraordinary event, while the other seven were suspended because they\nhad not yet received the second-stage Temporary Beneficiary Group\nDetermination Letter (SPKS\/SPS) from the National Nutrition Agency\n(BGN),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On hygiene and sanitation standards, Defri said 133 of the 138 SPPG\nunits in operation had obtained Hygiene and Sanitation Feasibility\nCertificates (SLHS) as of 6 October 2026.<\/p>\n
The figures resulted from cross-checking SPPG data with the Batam\nCity Health Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf the 138 kitchens that have operated, 133 had obtained an SLHS by\n6 October. The remaining applications are still being processed,\nparticularly the checks on food and water laboratory test results,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Defri, water quality is the most common challenge facing\nSPPG units seeking to meet SLHS requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the water supply in Batam is of poor quality, some kitchens\nneed to use additional filtration equipment to ensure the water meets\nlaboratory testing requirements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said meeting SLHS requirements was an important part of ensuring\nthat food prepared and distributed through the MBG programme was safe\nfor beneficiaries to eat.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/free-nutritious-meals-programme-in-batam-reaches-94-of-potential-beneficiaries-1792471929", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }