28 Nutrition Service Units in Central Papua Resume Operations for MBG Programme

Nabire (ANTARA) - As many as 28 Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) in Central Papua have resumed operations to serve the nutritional needs of schoolchildren and the 3B groups (breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and toddlers) through the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. The Regional Coordinator of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Central Papua, Nalen Situmorang, in Nabire on Tuesday, stated that previously 11 out of 33 SPPG had their operations temporarily suspended. She explained that the six SPPG that have become active again consist of five units in Nabire and one unit in Mimika. Meanwhile, there are still five SPPG that have not resumed operations, all located in Mimika Regency, as they are still undergoing improvements. She hopes that local government and related agencies can strengthen collaboration to ensure the success of the MBG programme in Central Papua. She reminded of the need for anticipatory measures against potential food shortages as the number of SPPG increases. “In Nabire, which now has 14 SPPG, shortages of food supplies have already begun to occur. We must not let the MBG programme trigger inflation in the area,” she said. Currently, the number of SPPG in Central Papua is recorded at 33 units spread across three regencies, namely 14 units in Nabire, one unit in Deiyai, and 18 units in Mimika. In the future, BGN plans to add SPPG construction in five other regencies that do not yet have these facilities, including additional units in Deiyai. According to Nalen, the development of SPPG in those areas is still being coordinated with the local government, as most of the locations fall into the category of underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions (3T).