A total of 18,000 Family Planning Counselors (PKB) and Field Family Planning Officers (PLKB) are prepared to lead the government’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, preschoolers, and toddlers, particularly those under the age of two. This statement was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka during a discussion forum in Jakarta, organized by the Presidential Communication Office and Gempita. The forum, titled “The Role of Family Development in Welcoming Indonesia Emas 2045”, also featured Deputy Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan, along with PCO Senior Expert Staff Chacha Anisa.
Isyana highlighted the concrete efforts taken by the government to prepare for Indonesia’s golden generation in 2045, with the MBG program being a significant initiative. She emphasized that the program targets not only schoolchildren but also pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and preschoolers, who are not covered by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Collaboration between Kemendukbangga and the National Nutrition Agency plays a crucial role in implementing the program effectively on the ground through trained cadres.
Apart from PKB and PLKB cadres, Kemendukbangga is also partnering with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs to establish Family Assistance Teams (TPK), comprising health workers, Family Welfare Movement cadres, and family planning volunteers. These teams, totaling around 600,000 members nationwide, are at the forefront of distributing MBG to the target groups, stressing the importance of nutrition for expectant mothers, nursing mothers, and young children.
Isyana underlined the significance of improving human resource quality, in alignment with the government’s Asta Cita goal number four, which begins with families and at the earliest possible stage. She pointed out that building healthy habits within families is crucial, as each family has its own dynamics. Additionally, she highlighted the critical nature of the first 1,000 days of life in preventing stunting, which starts during pregnancy and not at birth.
