Hundreds of Students in Bandarlampung Allegedly Poisoned by MBG from Three Different Schools

BANDARLAMPUNG - Hundreds of students from three schools in Kemiling District, Bandarlampung City, are suspected of food poisoning after eating a meal from the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program on Friday, February 13.

The Head of the Bandarlampung City Health Office (Dinkes), Muhtadi Arsyad Tumenggung, confirmed that the students had quite serious diarrhea symptoms.

Based on data from the Health Office, the total number of affected victims is spread across three educational institutions with the following details:

SDN 4 Sumberjo: terdiri dari 77 siswa, 9 guru, dan 1 orang tua siswa. Sebagian besar korban di sekolah ini menjalani rawat jalan.

SD Al Munawaroh: terdiri dari 64 siswa, serta 11 orang yang merupakan guru dan penjaga sekolah, ditambah 1 orang tua guru. Lima orang dari sekolah ini harus menjalani perawatan intensif di rumah sakit atau klinik.

SMPN 14 Bandarlampung: A total of 43 students were affected, with 37 people being treated at home and the other 6 had to be hospitalized at the hospital and Kemiling Health Center.

Muhtadi explained that the three schools received food supplies from the same Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Kemiling District. Although the location of the SPPG building was considered to have met the physical criteria, a crucial fact was found regarding its operational legality.

"Yes, our data on SPPG does not have SLHS (Certificate of Public Health Hygiene). The note from the Health Office has several points in this SPPG that do not meet the requirements so that there must be improvements. On this basis, the Health Office has not issued a recommendation to issue an SLHS to the Licensing Office," said Muhtadi.

The Health Office has taken samples of water and food remnants to be tested in the laboratory to determine the exact cause of the poisoning. There is a suspicion that certain food ingredients or processing processes make food unfit for consumption or stale.

The Bandarlampung Health Office has instructed the Kemiling Health Center and the Bringin Raya Health Center to closely monitor the condition of all victims, both students and teachers, especially for those undergoing outpatient treatment.

"We want to ensure that students and teachers suspected of being poisoned by MBG are healthy and improving, especially those who are outpatients. Because those who are hospitalized will definitely be treated by doctors at the hospital," added Muhtadi.

Until this news was released, the authorities were still waiting for the results of checking food samples to determine the next legal or administrative steps against SPPG.