BPOM Committed to Strictly Monitoring the MBG Programme

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) is committed to continuing strict oversight of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme with a formal written agreement reached with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). “BPOM has it in black and white that whatever happens with BGN related to the MBG programme, BPOM will steadfastly oversee it and do whatever it takes for its success. This is President Prabowo’s priority programme; we will go all out no matter what,” stated BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar in Jakarta on Tuesday. He also explained the surveillance budget that had gone viral on social media, where netizens claimed BPOM’s funds were inadequate for monitoring the MBG programme. “The viral issue yesterday was about surveillance. For post-incident oversight, we have been carrying it out exceptionally well without needing funds from MBG or the like, but for proactive surveillance, there is scientific data: for 30,000 nutrition fulfilment service units (SPPG), for example, surveillance requires at least three to five percent, so a minimum of 1,000 to 3,000 SPPG must be surveilled simultaneously for valid data,” he said. “We are doing that to the maximum. Now, the question is about the self-managed funds of Rp700 billion; those self-managed funds are more specifically for sample testing and processing, as well as costs for what we call mobile laboratories or vans, which require expenses, initially Rp700 billion, agreed at Rp675 billion,” he added. Nevertheless, in line with President Prabowo’s directives to ensure the success of the MBG programme, all ministries and agencies will continue to collaborate to monitor this priority nutrition improvement initiative to prevent any recurrence of food safety incidents.