Pregnant Women In Sumba: In The Past, There Was Fast Breakfast, Now Children Can Also Eat Out Thanks To MBG

Pregnant women in Southwest Sumba NTT experience the benefits of MBG. (IST)

WEST SUMBA DAYA - For Vincencia Toma, a resident of Radamata Village, Tambulaka City District, the presence of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program brings real changes in everyday life. This pregnant woman (Bumil) from a four-year-old child admitted that she had experienced firsthand the benefits of MBG since the program was run in her area and the child also ate the food.

"In the past, the breakfast was minimal. Now, since the food from MBG, my son has always finished," Vincencia said when met at the local Posyandu this week.

He has received free food for the last nine days as part of the target of the MBG program. In his experience, the menu served tastes delicious and helps add to his child's nutrition. Indeed, the food is delicious. It's just that the vegetables are sometimes a bit dry, so children have a little hard to eat. But overall it's very helpful, "he said.

More than just a matter of taste, according to Vincencia's MBG program also has an impact on family consumption patterns. If previously he had to cook his own and share food stocks for the morning and evening, now he feels helped. "It can be circumvented, it can be circumvented in the morning from MBG, so the stock for afternoon meals can be safe," he said.

Vincencia is currently nine months pregnant. She became one of hundreds of pregnant and lactating women who benefited directly from the MBG nutrition service kitchen. According to her, the existence of the MBG kitchen in her village is also a form of real concern for the government for mothers and children in the village.

"There used to never been free food like this. Now children can eat with enough side dishes," he said.

He hopes that this program can continue in the long term, not only for a while. "Hopefully this program can continue like that," said Vincencia.

The MBG program in Southwest Sumba is managed by the Tambolaka Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) which serves schools and posyandu, including pregnant, lactating, and toddlers. With local food ingredients and measurable nutrition, this program is expected to be a concrete solution to improve the nutrition of rural communities and reduce stunting rates in the regions.