Government to issue free snacks at schools<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will launch an ambitious plan to
\nimprove the health of school children this year by distributing
\nhigh-protein snacks free at primary schools.<\/p>\n
State Minister for National Development Planning Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita yesterday announced details of the scheme, which
\nwill be introduced in phases, starting with selected provinces
\nand eventually covering all schools, private and government by
\n2003.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar yesterday reported on the program to President
\nSoeharto at the latter's Jl. Cendana residence. He was
\naccompanied by Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie SM, Minister
\nof Agriculture Syarifudin Baharsyah, Minister of Food Ibrahim
\nHassan, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher and Minister
\nof Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar explained that undernourishment is still prevalent
\namong Indonesian children.<\/p>\n
He presented some bleak statistics.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has an infant mortality rate of 58 per 1,000 births,
\nthe highest among members of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations, while 40 percent of under-fives in Indonesia are
\nundernourished. A 1994 survey of 600 primary school pupils in 27
\nprovinces found that the growth of many children has been stunted
\nbecause of undernourishment. Between 30 and 40% of all children
\nin Indonesia suffer from anemia, and between 50 and 80% have
\nworm-related diseases.<\/p>\n
Supplement<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said the government program is intended to
\nsupplement children's food intake with high-protein snacks.<\/p>\n
The government set conditions on the kind of snacks that
\nschools can give their pupils.<\/p>\n
They should have at least 300 calories and five grams of
\nprotein, representing about 15% of the minimum calorie and
\nprotein intakes a child should have every day.<\/p>\n
The cost of their production must not exceed Rp 250 a piece in
\nwestern Indonesia or Rp 350 in eastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n
They must be handed out at least three times a week, and be
\nmade with products grown and bought locally, not tinned products.<\/p>\n
This year, the program will be implemented in poor villages
\noutside Java and Bali, covering over 2.1 million pupils, or 15
\npercent of the number of primary-school age children in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar estimated that the program will cost Rp 70 billion
\n($30 million) this year.<\/p>\n
The program will be expanded gradually, and schools in Java
\nand Bali will begin to be included in 2000\/2001.<\/p>\n
By 2002\/2003, the government hopes the program can cover all
\nprimary schools in the country, and cover 29.28 million pupils.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-issue-free-snacks-at-schools-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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