MBG continues to be improved to strengthen the national food security system

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) states that the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) continues to be improved to strengthen the national food security system. Deputy for Provision and Distribution of BGN, Brigadier General TNI (Ret.) Suardi Samiran, emphasised that the MBG Programme is being continuously strengthened, as it serves as a long-term investment for higher-quality Indonesian human resources. Suardi added that access to healthy food in schools forms the foundation for the emergence of a superior and globally competitive generation. Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Special Staff for Communication and Media at the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemenkomdigi), Molly Prabawati, noted that the MBG Programme has not yet been felt by urban communities, but for frontier, underdeveloped, and outermost regions (3T), the programme truly serves as a mainstay for the community, especially children. “Indonesia is vast, comprising more than 17,000 islands. There are big cities and remote areas, including 3T regions. This condition poses a challenge for urban communities. MBG may feel less relevant to urban societies, but for our children in remote areas and 3T regions, they certainly need MBG very much,” said Molly. She stressed that to build the Golden Generation 2045, Indonesia needs to prepare well-nourished Indonesian children. Therefore, MBG is truly needed by schoolchildren to help improve focus during learning. “I am confident that MBG is very much needed because when they go to school, MBG is already prepared, so they can think clearly, and we are greatly helped; mothers’ needs are also fulfilled,” she said. Molly emphasised that the MBG approach to schoolchildren and other beneficiaries, such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B), varies. “Communication strategies for various segments, starting from breastfeeding mothers and toddlers, are made per segment. Then, with simple information and support from nutrition experts providing complete narratives, this needs to be done so that the public understands better, because this is one of the government’s priority programmes that is very popular among the people,” she stated.