Elementary School Students Poisoned MBG Menu In Banyumas And Ketapang West Kalimantan, Local Government Conducts Investigation

JAKARTA - The Head of the Regional Food for Free Nutrition (MBG) of West Kalimantan (Kalbar), Agus Kurniawan, confirmed that he took quick steps to investigate the alleged poisoning case that befell students of SDN 12 Benua Kayong, Ketapang Regency, after consuming the MBG menu.

"We are investigating the MBG kitchen in Ketapang which resulted in food poisoning," Agus said in Pontianak, Friday, which was confiscated by Antara.

Agus said, of the 24 students who had been affected, there were still three children who needed monitoring because they experienced symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and fever.

"We have coordinated with the MBG Task Force consisting of the Education Office, Bappeda, and the Health Office. Currently, we are still waiting for the results of laboratory tests from BPOM on food samples sent by the Nutrition Food Supply Unit (SPPG)," he said.

For the time being, the operation of the SPPG that produces MBG packages in Ketapang has been suspended until the results of an official investigation from BPOM come out. Previously, a number of students at SDN 12 Benua Kayong were suspected of being poisoned by food packages from the MBG Program. One of the food menus, pieces of fried sharks.

"The head of the SPPG was forced to be temporarily dismissed, waiting for confirmation of the official test results," said Agus.

According to Agus, this incident will be a comprehensive evaluation of the MBG implementation mechanism in West Kalimantan. His party will tighten supervision, starting from water quality, cleaning raw materials, to the production and distribution process of food.

"We want to make sure the food consumed by the children is really safe, healthy, and nutritious," he said.

Agus emphasized that the alleged poisoning case in Ketapang was the first incident to occur since the MBG program was running in West Kalimantan.

He hopes that this incident will be an important lesson for all related parties to be more thorough and careful in maintaining the quality of food given to students.

Meanwhile, the Banyumas Regency Government (Pemkab) in Central Java is also investigating the alleged food poisoning experienced by dozens of elementary school students in Pangebatan Village after consuming the MBG menu.

Head of the Elementary School Development Division of the Banyumas Regency Education Office (Disdik), Taryono, said that his party had coordinated with the Banyumas District Health Office (Dinkes), the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), and the District Coordinator (Konwircam) of the Karanglewas Disdik related to the problem.

"On the order of the Secretary of the Education Office, all Korwilcam must report in stages related to MBG activities and the slightest incident so that it can be handled immediately," he said in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Friday.

He said it was done because initially the Banyumas Disdik had not received any reports related to the alleged poisoning case that occurred on Tuesday, September 23 and Wednesday, September 24.

Therefore, his party immediately reported the incident to BGN and asked for a temporary suspension of MBG food delivery from the local Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG).

He suspects that the report of the poisoning incident did not arrive at the Banyumas Disdik because of a clause in a cooperation agreement with the SPPG which requires the school to maintain confidentiality in the event of an Extraordinary Incident (KLB).

"In a hearing with Commission IV of the Banyumas DPRD, we have submitted our objections, and the SPPG has stated that it will change the contents of the agreement," said Taryono.

On a separate occasion, the Head of the Banyumas District Health Office, Dani Esti Novia, said that his party had deployed a team to the field to investigate the alleged poisoning case.

Based on initial information, he continued, around 70 students experienced symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and inflammation of the throat since Tuesday, September 23 and Wednesday, September 4. "Meanwhile there are 70 children, but we are still waiting for the results of the team's examination in the field," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Riyadi Pangebatan State Elementary School decided to temporarily stop receiving MBG Program food for his students following the alleged poisoning experienced by dozens of children at the school.

"Starting from Wednesday (September 24) until today it has not been sent, while monitoring the condition of the children here. I don't know if other schools, which I know is SDN 1 Kediri, the information is also stopped," he said.

He said indications of poisoning began to be known after receiving a call from the Head of SD Negeri 2 Kediri, Karanglewas District, on Wednesday, September 24 afternoon.

In this case, he said, the Head of SD Negeri 2 Kediri asked whether the Pangebatan State Elementary School was experiencing problems related to MBG.

"After I confirmed it to the teacher, then we checked, and we recorded it, it turned out that many students did not come in. The parents' information stated that the children had dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting," he said.

Based on school records, he said, until Friday, September 26, there were still dozens of students who did not attend school. According to him, the temporary suspension of distribution of the MBG menu was carried out solely to ensure the safety and health of students.

"We also continue to coordinate with teachers, parents, and health workers regarding the development of the condition of the affected children," he said.