Bontang City Government Evaluates Free Nutritious Meal Programme
The Bontang City Government has moved swiftly to respond to an incident of suspected food poisoning affecting a number of students in several schools. This firm action was realised through a Coordination Meeting and Evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme held at the 3 Dimensional Auditorium on Tuesday morning.
The strategic meeting was led directly by the Deputy Mayor of Bontang, Agus Haris. He was accompanied by Acting Regional Secretary Akhmad Suharto, Assistant for Government and People’s Welfare Dasuki, Head of the Education and Culture Office Abdu Safa Muha, and Head of the Health Office dr. Toetoek Pribadi Ekowati.
This coordination meeting brought together the Heads of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), nutritionists, and school principals from across Bontang City. The primary focus of the meeting was to conduct a thorough evaluation of the governance and food safety supervision systems within the ongoing MBG programme.
In his directives, Deputy Mayor Agus Haris stressed that the Bontang City Government is paying serious attention to student safety and health. He stated that the meeting was held specifically as a form of government responsibility to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident and prevent similar occurrences from happening again.
“The safety of our children is the top priority. The poisoning incident in several schools is a major evaluation note for all of us. Today we sit together to fix the entire flow, from the selection of raw materials, processing in the kitchen, to distribution in schools,” Agus Haris asserted.
Agus Haris also issued strict instructions to all parties involved, especially food providers and the SPPG. He requested that food safety standards be applied strictly without compromise to guarantee the quality of nutritional intake for students in Bontang City.
To date, the Health Office and related agencies are still conducting an in-depth investigation into the exact cause of the poisoning. This evaluation is expected to result in new, stricter standard operating procedures for supervising food distribution within the school environment.