National Nutrition Agency: Free Nutrition Food Will Enjoy 82.9 Million People

JAKARTA - Head of the National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hindayana said that the free nutritious food initiated by the President-Vice President-elect Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka targeted 82.9 million people.

"The number of recipients of this free nutritious meal will be around 82.9 million people. For this reason, we collaborate with all elements, including the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) with the handling of stunting, because we are given the authority for nutrition intervention," Dadan said in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Friday, October 11.

Dadan conveyed this online at the 2024 National Population Symposium entitled "Population Policy Transformation Towards Golden Indonesia 2045" at Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta, Central Java, Wednesday (9/10).

He emphasized that the mechanism for implementing free nutritious food continues to be finalized because the program is considered to be able to overcome the stunting problem because it targets not only school children from elementary to high school levels, but also pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.

"This program is to complete all stages of growth, starting from the womb, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, to high school children, because this is a series that cannot be broken down," he said.

According to him, if one of these elements is not intervened, the results will not be maximized, so they must be done together.

Dadan also explained the name change from free lunch to free nutritious dining, which is based on trials that have been held in various regions in Indonesia.

Dadan explained, based on the results of the trial, it was known that children at the age of PAUD-SD grade 2, spent time at school only until 10:00, so food was sent to children at 08.00.

As for elementary school children in grades 3-6, going to school until 12.00, they will receive food at around 09.00. Meanwhile, school children at the SMP-SMA level, school hours until 14.00 or 16.00, they receive food at around 11.30.

"Because it is accepted by the children for various hours, it is no longer suitable to use the name of a free lunch, but it is changed to a free nutritious meal," he said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Head of BKKBN Sundoyo said, to welcome Indonesia Gold 2045, collaboration with various parties is needed, including free nutritious food.

"The National Nutrition Agency plays a role in nutritional intervention, BKKBN plays a role in terms of information and data or others, such as other institutions or ministries as well," he said.

Regarding the handling of stunting which is the responsibility of the BKKBN, Sundoyo said that currently a stunting reduction study is being carried out during 2024 to be used as the basis for stunting intervention policies in 2025.

"Just wait for the results in the next three months, it will be released, and later it can be seen related to the reduction in stunting rates," he said.