BGN Urged to Conduct Thorough Investigation into Cause of Mass Poisoning

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and to promptly announce the results of laboratory tests regarding the cause of the mass poisoning in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in East Jakarta. “BGN is obliged to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation and to immediately announce the results of laboratory tests related to the cause of the poisoning,” said KPAI Deputy Chairman Jasra Putra when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday. The commission also called on BGN to ensure that all treatment and medical costs for the child victims are fully guaranteed and covered. In addition, KPAI has requested that BGN conduct a total evaluation of the governance system, supply chain, and storage standards at every SPPG to prevent similar incidents from recurring. “BGN must listen to the voices and concerns of children and parents. The recovery of the programme must begin with the involvement of the beneficiaries’ perspectives,” said Jasra Putra. Following the revelation of the mass poisoning case in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme distributed at several schools in East Jakarta on Thursday (2/4), KPAI conducted a surprise inspection at SMUN 91 and visited the child victims at RS Islam Pondok Kopi in East Jakarta on Tuesday. This incident resulted in 72 student victims from four schools, namely SMAN 91, SDN Pondok Kelapa 01, SDN Pondok Kelapa 09, and SDN Pondok Kelapa 07, suffering from poisoning. Currently, dozens of those students are undergoing intensive treatment at RSKD Duren Sawit, RSKD Pondok Kopi, and RS Harum.