37 Victims of MBG Poisoning in Pondok Kelapa Still Under Treatment

The Jakarta Provincial Health Department (Dinkes) stated that as of Wednesday (8 April), 37 victims of the suspected food poisoning from the free nutritious meal (MBG) programme in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, are still receiving treatment at various hospitals.

Jakarta Health Department Head Ani Ruspitawati said a total of 104 residents sought hospital care following the MBG poisoning incident in Pondok Kelapa on Thursday (2 April).

She emphasised that not all victims required inpatient treatment. Some were allowed to go home after initial care.

“Today, only 37 are still being treated, from the previous total of 104. Not all were admitted; some came and were allowed to leave, while others were kept for treatment,” Ani said at Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday (8 April).

She detailed that seven patients are at Duren Sawit Hospital, six at Pondok Kopi Islamic Hospital, and 19 at Harum Hospital. The rest are scattered across other health facilities in East Jakarta.

Ani stressed that the remaining patients are being held for observation until they fully recover. The Health Department does not want to take risks by discharging patients before their conditions are completely stable.

“We wait until they are stable, truly healthy, no longer feverish, no vomiting, no diarrhoea, all symptoms gone, before discharging them,” she asserted.

According to her, the victims’ conditions are gradually improving. However, individual differences in bodily responses mean recovery times cannot be uniform.

Not only students, but the case also affected several teachers and parents who experienced similar symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhoea, and stomach pain.