56 Students Poisoned by MBG Menu in Singkawang West Kalimantan, the City Government Calls SPPG Bukit Batu
JAKARTA - The City Government (Pemkot) of Singkawang in West Kalimantan (Kalbar) summoned the manager of the Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) Bukit Batu, Central Singkawang District.
The Secretary of the City of Singkawang, Dwi Yanti, said the summons was a response to the poisoning of the Free Nutritious Food (MBG) program menu experienced by dozens of Singkawang Model MAN students.
"The cause is not yet certain because we are still waiting for the results of the examination of food samples at the BBPOM laboratory (the National Agency for Food and Drug Monitoring)," said Dwi Yanti in Singkawang, Tuesday, February 10, quoted by Antara.
He explained that out of a total of 56 MAN Model Singkawang students who had experienced symptoms and underwent medical treatment, their condition is now improving. As of Tuesday, only two students are still undergoing treatment, while the others have been allowed to go home.
Regarding this incident, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has issued a letter to temporarily stop the operation of the SPPG Bukit Batu kitchen until an undetermined deadline, while waiting for the results of a thorough investigation and evaluation.
Dwi Yanti hopes that the incident will be the first and last to occur in the City of Singkawang. The city government, he said, will not be negligent in supervising all MBG kitchens operating in the area.
"We will take preventive measures and follow-up actions, including surprise inspections (sidak) to a number of SPPG kitchens to ensure that they are all running according to SOP," he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Singkawang City Health and Family Planning Service, Achmad Hardin, said that his party together with the MBG team had made various supervisory efforts, ranging from training kitchen managers, issuing certificates of operational suitability, to direct assistance at the kitchen location.
"From our side, how can the kitchen meet health standards, even though the BGN itself already has a standard kitchen specification," he said.
In handling the case, the Health Office also provided medical services to the affected students and supported the process of examining food samples, although the results of laboratory tests take time.
Based on coordination between the Singkawang City Government and the local BPJS Kesehatan, all the costs of treatment for affected students are borne by BPJS. However, the SPPG stated that it was still ready to take responsibility if there were costs that could not be claimed.
"The point is that there is attention from the SPPG and they are ready to take responsibility," said Achmad.
Head of SPPG Bukit Batu Maulidi Ikhsan apologized for the unexpected incident. He emphasized that this incident would be evaluated so that future services could run better.
"Regarding the cause of the incident, we can't confirm it yet. The temporary suspicion may be related to the difference in delivery time and student meal hours. However, for certainty, we are still waiting for the results of the BBPOM laboratory," he said.
He added that his party had provided support to students and parents, including helping with administrative and maintenance costs.
Based on the latest information he received, all affected students have now returned to their respective homes and no one is undergoing hospitalization in the hospital.