Former National Nutrition Agency Head Reveals Heart Blockage Due to Stress from Managing Large Budgets

Former National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Head Nanik S Deyang has revealed the reasons behind her resignation, citing a focus on recovering her health after suffering a heart condition and undergoing hospital treatment. Through a social media post, Nanik recounted experiencing a decline in her condition over nine days and being hospitalised for about a week. After her health improved, she only then returned to attending cabinet meetings. According to the doctor, I had a blockage in my heart artery, which besides being due to high cholesterol, was also triggered by extraordinary stress, Nanik wrote. She admitted the greatest pressure stemmed from the responsibility of managing a large amount of state funds. The worry of ensuring all budget usage complied with regulations made her extremely cautious when making decisions. Nanik stated she never signed any important documents alone. She always required two deputy heads to also provide their initials after going through checks and assistance. I was so afraid of handling a large budget that I refused to sign anything by myself; two deputy heads had to initial it, she said. According to Nanik, this pressure eventually took a toll on her physical condition. She confessed to often feeling anxious when facing numerous work documents, to the point of experiencing hot and cold flushes. Because of this, she asked President Prabowo Subianto for permission to leave her post to prioritise her health recovery. I have said goodbye to the president, asking not to be kept long at BGN because I want to concentrate on my health, she wrote. Although no longer leading BGN, Nanik mentioned President Prabowo asked her to remain involved in supervising the institution. She said a supervisory board might be formed and she was asked to become its chair. However, Nanik stressed she is only willing to carry out supervisory functions without handling financial matters, claiming to be traumatised. I can probably still nag, as long as it is not related to handling money, I swear it is acute trauma, she wrote. On the other hand, Nanik affirmed her continued support for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. According to her, the programme aims to improve children’s nutrition to create a golden generation, not for political interests.