Soroti Kasus Diare Massal Siswa SMPN 5 Rembang, Komisi IX DPR Minta Keamanan Menu MBG Dievaluasi

JAKARTA - Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives has highlighted the serious case of mass diarrhea experienced by students and teachers of SMP Negeri 5 Rembang, Central Java. It is suspected that this case is related to the menu of the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG).

Member of Commission IX of the DPR, Nurhadi, asked the government not to take the incident lightly. According to him, the safety and health of beneficiaries must be the top priority in the implementation of the MBG program.

"The case of mass diarrhea allegedly triggered by the menu of the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) at SMP Negeri 5 Rembang must be a serious alarm for all parties involved in the implementation of this program," Nurhadi told reporters, Saturday, August 8.

He also expressed concern over the fall of the victims, both from students and educators. However, Nurhadi reminded that the exact cause of the incident would still wait for the results of the investigation and laboratory examination.

Based on initial information, the suspected cause leads to eggs contaminated with bacteria. However, Nurhadi emphasized that the allegation must be scientifically proven.

"We still have to respect the investigation process and wait for the results of laboratory tests so that the cause can be scientifically confirmed," he said.

Nurhadi assessed that the incident at SMPN 5 Rembang was proof that the success of the MBG program should not be measured solely based on the number of meals that have been successfully distributed. According to him, the quality, safety, and hygiene aspects of food should be the main indicators in the implementation of the program.

He asked all the MBG chain of management, from the procurement of raw materials, storage, cooking process, distribution to serving, to be closely supervised.

"The entire chain of implementation, from the procurement of raw materials, storage, cooking process, distribution, to serving, must be strictly supervised with food safety standards that cannot be negotiated," he said.

Nurhadi also asked the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) together with the local government and the Health Office to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) which supplies food to the school.

If the results of the investigation find negligence or violations of operational standards, he asks the government to take firm action and impose sanctions in accordance with the provisions.

"MBG-sized programs must not provide space for practices that ignore the safety of beneficiaries," he said.

In addition to handling the victims, Nurhadi encouraged the government to conduct periodic food safety audits of all MBG kitchens in various regions. According to him, supervision should not only be carried out after cases of poisoning or health disorders arise.

He emphasized that the examination must be preventive to prevent similar incidents. The audit, he said, needs to include an examination of the quality of food ingredients, kitchen sanitation, distribution chain, to the competence of officers who process food.

"Supervision must be preventive, with inspections of the quality of food ingredients, kitchen sanitation, distribution chains, to the competence of food processing officers. Similar incidents should not continue to recur in various regions," he said.

Nurhadi emphasized that Commission IX of the DPR RI will continue to carry out oversight functions on the implementation of the MBG program to meet public health standards. He assessed that MBG is a major investment for the future of the Indonesian generation so that food safety aspects must be the main foundation of the program.

"The public must be assured that the food given to children is not only nutritious, but also safe to consume," he concluded.