MBG Programme Key to Addressing Hidden Emergency from Stunting Impacts
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Chairman of the Indonesian Nutritionists Association (Persagi), Dodi Izwardi, stated that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is a crucial solution to address the phenomenon of hidden emergency or silent emergency resulting from the long-term impacts of stunting in Indonesia.
In a dialogue titled “From Nutritious Food to National Intelligence” at the APPMBGI National Summit 2026 attended in Jakarta on Saturday, Dodi explained that stunting is not merely an issue of height, but a threat to biological and human capital throughout the life cycle.
“The damage from stunting is cumulative and often only fully apparent in learning performance. The only way to repair it is through sustained consumption of balanced nutritious food, which is now accommodated through the MBG programme,” he said.
He presented medical data showing that children who experience stunting have a much higher risk of degenerative diseases in adulthood.
As per Barker’s theory, which he outlined, stunted children have a 1.7 times higher risk of coronary heart disease and 1.4 times higher risk of hypertension due to disruptions in fetal kidney programming.
“This is what is called a silent emergency. Many parties question the urgency of MBG because they do not understand the cross-generational impacts that endanger the nation’s productivity,” he stressed.
Dodi added that Persagi, with its 58,000 nutrition expert members across Indonesia, is fully committed to supporting the quality of this programme through strengthening competencies and certification of nutrition supervisors in Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).
Synergy between professional organisations and kitchen business associations, according to him, will ensure a healthy supply chain and dining environment in line with global food transformation standards.
“Indonesia has been carrying out fortification, diversification, and supplementation for years. However, the point of massive and structured nutritious food consumption through SPPG is the missing link that has not been implemented nationally so far,” stated the former Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health.
Through this programme, Dodi is optimistic that the targets of reducing stunting rates and improving human resource quality towards Golden Indonesia 2045 can be achieved, provided the programme implementation stays on track and receives support from all components of the nation.