BGN Changes MBG Target, High Stunting Areas Will Be Prioritized

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency will change the target of the Free Nutritious Meal program by giving greater attention to areas with high stunting rates. So far, the placement of kitchens and recipients has not been based on the nutritional needs of the region.

Deputy Head of BGN Agustina Arumsari said the evaluation would use data from the Ministry of Health and the 2024 Nutrition Survey. Central Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua Highlands are among the regions with high stunting percentages.

Meanwhile, West Java, East Java, Central Java, North Sumatra, and Banten have a large number of cases because their population is high, even though the percentage is below the national average.

"Which area, which children, which we must prioritize. That is now our task," said Agustina at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday (20/7).

According to Agustina, only about 17 percent of MBG recipients currently come from the group of pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, and toddlers. As many as 76 percent are students from elementary school to high school.

The composition will be studied because stunting prevention requires intervention in the first 1,000 days of life.

"If we talk about preventing stunting, the first 1,000 days is the golden period. Now it's only 17 percent," he said.

Agustina emphasized that programs for students are still important. However, the target and goal are different from interventions for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers that are directly related to stunting prevention.

Refocusing can also shift some recipients and budgets to areas that need it more. The amount of change is still being calculated in the ongoing evaluation.