Head Of BKKBN Suggests Free Lunch Program And Target Pregnant Women

Head of BKKBN dr. Hasto Wardoyo/ANTARA

JAKARTA - Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency, dr. Hasto Wardoyo suggested that the free lunch program also target pregnant women to be more effective in reducing the risk of stunting birth children.

"For stunting, I hope there will be modifications, so the program is included in free lunch, but pregnant women are given better packages, for example given milk, vitamins," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, March 9.

He said pregnant women can also be given manufactured foods, but it is recommended to contain more animal protein to make stunting more effective

"In my opinion, it is better for pregnant women to be in the form of packages, if that's the case, they can reduce stunting, because the target is pregnant women," he said.

He also stated that the Rp15 thousand budget for the free lunch program submitted by the government could be sufficient if only to provide supplements to pregnant women.

"If it's Rp. 15 thousand for supplements, I think it's enough, but if the main menu is added, all kinds may be less, but for supplements, maybe pregnant women only need vitamins and milk, that's enough Rp. 15 thousand for milk and vitamins," he said.

Hasto also reminded that the target of reducing stunting by 14 percent this year must be realized and carried out seriously.

"Why should stunting be considered? Because if the stunting rate is high, the demographic bonus is not achieved, if we want to get out of the middle class income trap, pregnant women are not allowed to give birth to stunted children," he said.