The East Java Health Office has emphasized that the Free Nutritious Eating Program (MBG) is not merely about enhancing community nutrition; it also has a broad impact on economic and social welfare. This initiative, which has been implemented in various countries, including the United States, Finland, Denmark, Brazil, Japan, Korea, and India, aims to address multiple facets of public health and economic development.

According to Cicik Swi Antika, Head of the East Java Health Office Nutrition Section, the MBG program offers ten key advantages. These include supporting food security, building sustainable ecosystems, increasing community capacity through training, creating employment opportunities, and opening investment avenues in the downstream sector. Antika elaborated, “Not just providing nutritious food, but also trying to reduce maternal and infant mortality and overcome nutritional problems, including stunting, obesity, and lack of micro nutrition.”

Data from the East Java Provincial Government indicates that the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in 2024 reached 82.56 per 100,000 live births, which is lower than the target of 93.34 per 100,000. The infant mortality rate (AKB) in the same year recorded 3,754 cases, down from 3,938 cases in 2023. However, despite these improvements, there is a need for accelerated efforts to alleviate these issues further.

The MBG program aligns with national efforts to reduce the stunting rate. According to E-PPGBM data for the January-November 2024 period, the prevalence of stunting in East Java was at 5.96 percent, down from 6.10 percent in January-June 2024 and below the national target of 14 percent.

The East Java Health Office also highlighted the high risk of anemia in elementary school-aged children and Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (SD/MI). In 2023, the number of anemia cases in this group was recorded at 0.52 percent, but in the third quarter of 2024, it rose to 0.14 percent. Antika emphasized, “The main purpose of MBG is to increase the fulfillment of nutrition, improve children’s academic achievements, and encourage economic welfare and job creation to alleviate poverty.”

The MBG program targets school children and pesantren at all levels, pregnant women and toddlers with nutritional problems, as well as breastfeeding mothers and toddlers with normal nutritional status. Corporate Communication Manager of PT Frisian Flag Indonesia, Fetti Fadliah, noted that there are still many children in Indonesia who lack nutrition, calcium, and vitamin D. “One in four children experience stunting, many young women suffer from anemia, and urban children face risks of being overweight,” he said.

Frisian Flag Indonesia contributes to the MBG program by providing nutritional education and encouraging milk consumption as a complement to breakfast. Data shows that milk has a vitamin D content four times higher and calcium 2.6 times more than other food sources. Since 2013, Frisian Flag has provided nutritional support to 2.5 million children. This year, the company distributed assistance to 10 schools, consisting of eight elementary schools and two junior high schools, with a total target of 350 students.

Deputy Chairman of the Center for Nutrition and Public Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Drg Sandra Fikawati, MPH, highlighted the low milk consumption in Indonesia, which only reached 16 liters per capita per year, far behind developed countries such as the Netherlands, which reached 250 liters per capita per year. “Milk consumption needs to be increased because it plays an important role in children’s growth. The anti-su campaign is actually at risk of increasing cases of stunting, malnutrition, and obesity among urban children,” she said.

In an educational effort, her team has held a nutritional literacy program for teachers in Cikarang, West Java, which is carried out regularly every week. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) of East Java, Lutfil Hakim, considered that the MBG program had been implemented in various countries, such as the United States, Finland, Denmark, Brazil, Japan, Korea, and India. “This program is positive and very important. The challenge lies in distribution and operations in the field. In addition, the press needs to be involved in providing constructive education and correction,” Lutfil said.

Discussion moderator, Rachmat Hidayat, who is also the Head of the LKBN Bureau between East Java, added that the MBG program not only focuses on health aspects but also opens business opportunities in the agricultural and local food sectors. “During this time, nutritious eating programs are more often associated with health. In fact, this program has a broader impact, including in economic and social empowerment,” he said.

What is the Free Nutritious Eating program (MBG), and how does it impact economic and social welfare?

The Free Nutritious Eating Program (MBG) is an initiative aimed at enhancing community nutrition while also promoting economic and social welfare. Implemented in various countries,such as the United States,Finland,Denmark,Brazil,Japan,Korea,and India,it addresses public health and economic growth comprehensively.

Key benefits include:

• Supporting food security
• Building lasting ecosystems
• Increasing community training and capacity
• Creating employment opportunities
• Generating investment opportunities in downstream sectors

How does the MBG program contribute to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates?

According to Cicik Swi Antika, Head of the East Java Health office Nutrition Section, the MBG program not only provides nutritious meals but also aims to mitigate maternal and infant mortality. It addresses nutritional challenges such as stunting, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies.

The program has been linked to a decrease in the maternal mortality rate (MMR) to 82.56 per 100,000 live births in 2024, which is below the national target of 93.34, and a decline in infant mortality rate to 3,754 cases in the same year, showing notable progress in public health.

What are the key health benefits addressed by the MBG program?

The MBG program targets a range of public health issues, including:

• Reducing the prevalence of stunting, with data showing a decline to 5.96% in East Java
• Addressing anemia in school-aged children and toddlers,with increased attention in recent program phases
• Improving nutritional fulfillment,academic performance,and economic welfare,particularly in poverty alleviation

Who are the primary beneficiaries of the MBG program,and what nutritional issues do they face?

The MBG program targets various groups,including:

• school children and pesantren at all levels
• Pregnant women and toddlers with nutritional problems
• Breastfeeding mothers and toddlers with normal nutritional status

Corporate Dialogue Manager of PT Frisian Flag Indonesia,Fetti Fadliah,highlighted that many Indonesian children still face nutritional deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D,with one in four children experiencing stunting.

How does the MBG program promote milk consumption, and why is it essential?

Frisian Flag Indonesia plays a significant role in enhancing nutritional education and promoting milk consumption as part of the MBG program due to its high vitamin D and calcium content.

Prof. Dr. Drg. Sandra Fikawati, Deputy Chairman of the Center for Nutrition and Public Health Studies at the University of Indonesia, has pointed out that milk consumption in Indonesia is low at 16 liters per capita per year, stressing the need for increased consumption to support children’s growth.

What challenges does the MBG program face in implementation, and how are they being addressed?

The challenges include efficient distribution, effective field operations, and the role of the press in education and correction. Lutfil Hakim,Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) of East Java,emphasized the importance of the press in supporting MBG’s implementation.

Rachmat Hidayat,Head of the LKBN Bureau between East Java,noted that the program not only impacts health but also opens up business opportunities in the agricultural and local food sectors.