Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2013 The Indonesian Institute (TII) has urged the\ngovernment to swiftly complete an evaluation framework for the Free\nNutritious Meals (MBG) programme to measure its impact on improving\nrecipients\u2019 nutritional status and eating habits.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlongside monitoring, the government needs to finalise an evaluation\nframework that can measure the quality of nutritional intake, whether\nmenus meet recipients\u2019 needs, changes in nutritional status and healthy\neating habits,\u201d said Made Natasya Restu Dewi Pratiwi, a social affairs\nresearcher at TII, when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Natasya said the findings should provide a basis for regular\nimprovements to menus and the programme\u2019s implementation.<\/p>\n
She added that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), together with the\nHealth Ministry, the Ministry of Population and Family Development, and\nthe Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, should ensure the\nevaluation measures the benefits received by the public.<\/p>\n
She said the programme\u2019s success should not be judged solely by the\nnumber of beneficiaries or the reach of food distribution, but should\nalso take account of nutritional quality and the programme\u2019s impact on\nrecipients.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government must ensure that the meals distributed are safe and\nnutritious, and reach those in need or at risk, including lower\nsocio-economic groups and people suffering from malnutrition,\u201d Natasya\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She also stressed the importance of transparency and public\nparticipation in evaluating MBG. The government, she said, should\ncommunicate how it responds to public feedback during the programme so\nthat the evaluation can inform policy improvements.<\/p>\n
A measurable evaluation, she said, should enable the programme\u2019s\nresults to underpin ongoing improvements in menu quality and\nimplementation.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the National Nutrition Agency said it was continuing to\nimprove the governance of the Free Nutritious Meals programme by\nstrengthening discipline among civil servants and staff at Nutrition\nFulfilment Service Units (SPPGs).<\/p>\n
BGN spokesperson Tysa Novenny said that improvements had been made\nthroughout the first two years of President Prabowo Subianto and\nVice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka\u2019s leadership. These included\ndismissing SPPG heads and MBG kitchen staff found to have committed\ncrimes, violence or corruption, or to have caused food-safety\nincidents.<\/p>\n
\u201cImprovements to MBG governance are ongoing. Under the new\nleadership, we are addressing shortcomings, including strengthening\ndiscipline among civil servants, regional coordinators and SPPG heads.\nWe have now set SPPG heads\u2019 working hours to match kitchen operations:\n2am to 8am and 5pm to 7.30pm,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She added that the BGN had also made it compulsory to label meal\ntrays with the consumption deadline and a notice that meals must be\neaten on site and may not be taken home.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tii-urges-swift-completion-of-evaluation-framework-for-mbg-programme-1792565715", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }