Human Rights Minister Emphasises Obligation to Protect Children's Rights in Relation to MBG

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has emphasised that the state is obliged to ensure all children’s rights are fulfilled, particularly the rights to health, food security, and education in relation to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. He assessed that the MBG programme is fundamentally a strategic policy to improve children’s nutritional quality and reduce stunting rates, but its implementation must not overlook supervision and food safety aspects in the field. “The MBG programme basically has a noble aim to fulfil the nutrition of our children. However, if there are mistakes in the food management process, especially in the kitchen, then that must be totally evaluated and followed up seriously,” said Pigai in his statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. This emphasis relates to the handling of the suspected mass poisoning case in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in Surabaya, East Java. Pigai also stressed that every good intention in state policy must be protected from being undermined by technical negligence in food distribution or processing. “Because Mr President (Prabowo Subianto)’s intention in creating the MBG programme is so that Indonesian children are full, healthy, and smart. If they are full, they will be healthy. If they are healthy, they will be smart,” he stated. Previously, Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai directly inspected the condition of victims of the suspected mass poisoning in the MBG programme at the Indonesian Midwives Association Mother and Child Hospital (RSIA IBI) in Surabaya. The visit was conducted to directly ensure the fulfilment of children’s rights, particularly to health services and food security. Upon arriving at the hospital, Pigai checked on the condition of seven students still undergoing treatment. The hospital side reported that all patients were in stable condition and showing improving progress. In the treatment room, Pigai also provided moral support to the students to recover quickly and return to school activities. “You must get well, you’ll be better soon. Once recovered, you must return to school. You have to go to school to achieve all your dreams; if you go to school, you can become a minister like me,” he said to the patients. Based on monitoring data from the East Java Human Rights Ministry Regional Office, the suspected poisoning incident originated from the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) in Bubutan Tembok Dukuh. A total of 131 students were treated, with 124 allowed to go home and seven others still under medical observation.