Muhaimin: Improving MBG governance is the right step to enhance human resource quality

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar stated that efforts to improve the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme currently being undertaken by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) are the right step to make the programme more effective in enhancing human resource quality. “I see the priority scale, namely breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and toddlers, as the most appropriate priority scale. So others outside this priority scale must be willing to step aside for the sake of overcoming stunting more effectively and quickly,” said Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar in Jakarta on Tuesday. He assessed that the BGN’s new focus prioritising the B3 group—pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers—is the right step in efforts to accelerate stunting reduction and improve community nutrition quality. “That group most needs nutritional intervention because it is directly related to shaping the quality of future generations. By focusing on that group, the benefits of the MBG Programme can be felt more effectively and have a direct impact on stunting prevention efforts,” said Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar. However, in certain situations, he continued, the government needs to ensure that the most vulnerable groups receive primary attention so that the programme’s objectives can be achieved optimally. Besides focusing on beneficiaries, he also stressed the importance of improving governance and institutional management so that the implementation of the MBG Programme runs more effectively, is on target, and aligns with the President’s directives. “On the other hand, regarding the existing management and institutional governance, I also hope that all parties who have been involved will sit together to provide solutions so that it is truly effective and on target as ordered by the President,” said Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar.