In The Aftermath Of MBG Poisoning, Prabowo Instructs BGN To Consolidate SPPG Throughout Indonesia

JAKARTA - Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana admitted that he received direct instructions from President Prabowo Subianto to consolidate the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) throughout Indonesia.

The directive follows cases of poisoning due to the program.

Initially, Dadan was scheduled to attend the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi).

However, Dadan was not present because he had to carry out the president's instructions.

"I'm sorry that I cannot attend physically today because I received instructions from the President to immediately consolidate with all SPPGs, all parts of Indonesia so that the problems that arise behind them can be resolved immediately," he said at the Food Zone event, in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 7.

Quoting President Prabowo Subianto's direction, Dadan said that the free nutritious eating program is an investment in future human resources (HR) to create a golden and healthy generation.

Considering that the Indonesian population is still growing by 6 people per minute or 3 million per year, and will continue to grow to reach 324 million in 2045.

Referring to this data, Dadan said, Indonesians cannot be separated from parents whose education level is only 9 years.

For example, the average education for parents in West Java is only 8.8 years, which means the majority are only elementary school graduates.

Dadan said the community group was the main supporter of Indonesia's population growth, with a fairly high birth rate for children.

"Because the poor class household members whose income is below Rp. 1.2 million per month is 4.78. That means if there are 100 poor families, then 78 children's families are 3 (people), 22 children's families 2 (people)," he said.

Departing from this data, Dadan said, Indonesia's economic growth in 2045 will be supported by many people from poor families.

"So Indonesia's population growth in 2045 will not be supported by high-class and middle-class families, but growth will be supported by poor-class families, and remain poor," he said.

Dadan mengungkapkan sekitar 60 persen anak yang ditemui di lapangan bahkan tidak punya akses terhadap menu makan bergizi seimbang.

“Jadi kalau mereka makan biasanya asal ada nasi, ada kerupuk, ada mie, ada bala-bala (bakwan), ada kentang. Nah, 60 persen dari mereka juga hampir tidak pernah minum susu karena tidak mampu beli susu. Sebab itulah, maka program (MBG) ini kita harus lakukan,” tuturnya.

Dadan revealed that about 60 percent of children met in the field did not even have access to a balanced nutritious meal menu.

So if they eat usually as long as there is rice, there is crackers, there are noodles, there are reinforcements (bakwan), there are potatoes. Well, 60 percent of them also almost never drink milk because they can't afford milk. That's why, then we have to do this (MBG) program," he said.