480 Nutrition Service Units Activated in Remote Areas; National Nutrition Agency Ensures Expansion of Free Nutritious Meal Programme Continues

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has officially activated 480 Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) simultaneously across 16 provinces located in 3T regions (frontier, outermost, and remote) and areas with high stunting prevalence.

Head of the BGN, Sudaryono, stated that the activation of these hundreds of SPPGs serves as the initial step to expand the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme to regions deemed in need.

Sudaryono noted that to date, 27,022 SPPG kitchens are operating across Indonesia. However, there remain kitchens that are ready but not yet operational, located in areas where the implementation of the MBG programme is urgently required.

“I have been serving as the Head of the National Nutrition Agency for approximately two months. Currently, 27,022 kitchens are operating throughout Indonesia. It turns out there are still many kitchens ready to operate, and these ready kitchens are located in regions where the MBG programme is needed to commence immediately,” said Sudaryono during the inauguration of SPPGs in 3T regions and high-stunting prevalence areas across 16 Eastern Indonesian provinces on Friday, 2 October.

Sudaryono emphasised that the activation of 480 SPPGs in 16 provinces is not the final stage of the MBG expansion. The BGN will continue to open SPPGs gradually in various regions, considering community needs and the availability of operational kitchens.

“Is this the end? No. After this, we hope to open in Kalimantan, Bali, Sumatra, and other places where stunting is high and in 3T areas,” said Sudaryono.

He also stressed that the expansion of the MBG programme does not only target remote areas. According to him, the programme will also be directed towards regions where children require nutritious meals, even if those areas are not in the most remote locations.

“And in places where, even if it might not be the most remote area, the children there still need the MBG,” he added.

The expansion of the SPPG is also being conducted by considering various inputs received by the BGN from several parties. Sudaryono mentioned that feedback has come from various elements involved in the programme’s implementation, including partners, SPPG staff, kitchen cadres, and schools.