Free Nutritious Meals Become the Foundation for Strengthening National Human Resources
Jakarta – The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, launched by the government on January 6, 2025, has once again garnered strong support.
MBG is considered not only to address the disparity in food access for children, but also to be a crucial foundation for strengthening the quality of Indonesia’s human resources in the future.
Professor of the Department of Nutrition and Deputy Chair of the Center for Nutrition and Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia (FKM UI), Prof. Dr. drg. Sandra Fikawati, M.P.H., emphasized that Indonesia’s weak competitiveness is inextricably linked to the lack of attention to children’s nutritional intake.
“In the past, we didn’t consider children’s growth, which is why we lacked competitiveness (in human resources), because we were never provided with nutritious food during physical and brain development. MBG is a great opportunity. With this program, our competitiveness can be enhanced, because our human resources have been nurtured since childhood,” she said.
She explained that the MBG program has a significant impact on student learning ability, cognitive development, and attendance, especially in the 3T (frontier and remote) areas. Prof. Sandra emphasized the importance of program sustainability.
“This MBG program should be sustainable. If it stops, we will also suffer losses. Therefore, we must monitor this,” she said.
The PKGK FKM UI previously conducted a simulation of providing nutritious food in 15 schools and one integrated health post (Posyandu) in six regions. The results showed a decrease in malnutrition from 2% to 0.5% and undernutrition from 7.7% to 6.4%. After 15 weeks, children’s weight increased by an average of 2 kg and height by 2.9 cm, while the daily nutritional adequacy rate increased from 69.9% to 93.4%.
The government will strengthen the MBG program with nutrition education. Prof. Sandra stated that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is currently developing educational modules with several universities.
Meanwhile, Puteri Anetta Komarudin, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), called the MBG program a testament to the government’s commitment to building a healthy and productive generation.
“The MBG program is not just about food, but an investment in the nation’s future,” he emphasized.
He also appreciated the synergy between the regions and the National Agency for Food Security (BGN) in ensuring food quality.
Meanwhile, FX Ndaru Kusumajati from BGN emphasized that the MBG also boosts the regional economy.
“Through the MBG, we are building a healthy generation while strengthening regional economic independence,” he said.
He added that the existence of the SPPG is key to education and the provision of healthy food.
“The MBG is not just about nutritious food, but about the future of Indonesian children,” he concluded.
