NTB Provincial Government Proposes Prioritising Nutrition Service Units in Underdeveloped Regions

The Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara has proposed that the establishment of Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) be prioritised for disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas to reach beneficiaries who have not yet received the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Head of the MBG Task Force for the NTB Provincial Government, Fathul Gani, acknowledged that NTB still requires SPPG, particularly in 3T areas. He stated that although the cumulative number of SPPG in NTB is already overloaded, there are areas that remain unreachable, and these are the areas being proposed to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). He noted that regions can still propose the construction of SPPG through the BGN regional coordinator in each district or city, with proposals adjusted to the needs of SPPG and beneficiaries before being forwarded to the central BGN. Fathul Gani emphasised that 3T areas are a national priority, including for beneficiaries such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. He explained that some units are not yet operational due to a lack of certainty, as partners require a guarantee from the BGN on whether SPPG built in 3T areas can function normally. According to him, the BGN is currently re-verifying beneficiary data by name and by address to prevent misuse, double data, or fictitious beneficiaries of the MBG programme, and he expressed hope that this verification process could be completed as soon as possible.