MBG Task Force in Jember Recommends Closure of Kaliwates 7 Nutrition Service Unit

Jember, East Java (ANTARA) – The Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) Task Force of Jember Regency has recommended closing the Satuan Pelayanan Penutupan Gizi (SPPG) Kaliwates 7 because it was deemed negligent in carrying out its duties. ‘We strongly recommend that this SPPG be closed because it has caused MBG recipients’ children to report illnesses,’ said Achmad Imam Fauzi, head of the MBG Task Force of Jember Regency, East Java, at his office on Thursday. He said the Kaliwates SPPG had been repeatedly reminded because it frequently appeared in the Wadul Gus’e channel concerning public complaints, but this did not lead to improvements by the local SPPG. ‘There is no tolerance for SPPG that neglects the safety aspects of MBG recipients’ children, and the government regrets the attitude of the operators who ignored the various warnings previously issued related to residents’ complaints on the Wadul Gus’e channel,’ he said. The Task Force also proactively checked the SPPG kitchen to understand processing procedures up to the serving of MBG to thousands of students. ‘On behalf of the Jember Regency Government, we extend our deepest apologies to all victims and their parents for the incident,’ he said. The regent, familiarly known as Gus Fawait, is committed that the incident will be the last to occur in Jember Regency, so all SPPGs must comply with the established SOPs. Earlier, more than a dozen children were forced to be taken to a puskesmas (community health centre) and hospital due to suspected poisoning with complaints of nausea and dizziness after consuming MBG at their school delivered by SPPG Mitra Kaliwates 7 on Wednesday (20/5). The SPPG located on Jalan Teratai distributed 2,447 portions across 15 schools near that SPPG. Field observations show that SPPG Mitra Kaliwates has been suspended since Thursday until an undetermined end date.