BGN collaborates with 4 ministries to validate data for MBG distribution in food-insecure areas

From the Ministry of Health, we received information that, if focused on food-insecure areas, there are 81 districts/cities that have been designated as food-vulnerable regions. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is conducting data validation in collaboration with four Ministries/Institutions (K/L) for the distribution of Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) in food-insecure areas. The four ministries are the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga)/BKKBN, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), which already possess more valid data through their field teams to ensure MBG distribution is more on target. Deputy Head of BGN for Operational Nutrition Fulfilment, Sony Sonjaya, stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday that the government continues to coordinate for MBG distribution to focus on malnourished children in the First 1,000 Days of Life (HPK) in line with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto. He continued that if focused on the poor population, there are already 273 districts/cities declared as poor areas and 304 districts/cities recorded with high stunting prevalence. He stated that specifically in these 405 districts/cities, MBG distribution will prioritise food-vulnerable groups, the poor population, and high stunting prevalence, including groups in areas where nutrition is still lacking. BGN, together with three related institutions, is also continuing to strengthen the capacity of data custodians across all regions so that data presentation can be more accurate for more targeted MBG distribution.