82.9 Million People Will Participate In The Free Nutrition Food Program

Illustration of free nutritious food (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A total of 82.9 million Indonesians will participate in Prabowo Subianto's flagship program with the elected vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the 2014-2029 period.

Head of the National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hindayana said, to realize this program, cooperation and collaboration of various parties is needed.

The target number of free nutritious food recipients is around 82.9 million people. So, we have to collaborate with all elements, including the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) with the handling of stunting. This is because we are given the authority for nutrition intervention," Dadan said as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, October 13.

Dadan continued, until now the mechanism for implementing free nutritious food continues to be finalized. This is because the program is considered to be able to overcome the problem of stunting, because targeting not only school children from elementary to high school levels, but also pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.

"This program is to complete all stages of growth, starting from the womb, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, to high school children, because this is a series that cannot be broken down," he said.

According to him, if one of these elements is not intervened, the results will not be maximized, so they must be done together.

Dadan also explained the name change from free lunch to free nutritious dining, which is based on trials that have been held in various regions in Indonesia.

Dadan explained, based on the results of the trial, it was known that children at the age of PAUD-SD grade 2, spent time at school only until 10:00, so food was sent to children at 08.00.

As for elementary school children in grades 3-6, going to school until 12.00, they will receive food at around 09.00. Meanwhile, school children at the SMP-SMA level, school hours until 14.00 or 16.00, they receive food at around 11.30.

"Because it is accepted by the children for various hours, it is no longer suitable to use the name of a free lunch, but it is changed to a free nutritious meal," he concluded.