indonesiaJakarta — More than just tears of joy, Veronica Tan, the Deputy Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Wamen PPPA), witnessed a heartwarming scene during her inspection of the free nutritious meals (RAS) program for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and toddlers. A grandmother, caring for four or five grandchildren, was overwhelmed with gratitude as she saw them receiving the meals.
"Ibu-ibu were incredibly happy, and there was even a grandmother who cried tears of joy because she has four or five grandchildren who received free nutritious meals," Veronica recounted after visiting Posyandu Dahlia in Ciracas, East Jakarta, on Friday (10/1/2025).
"This grandmother was only praying to God for her children to be healthy and to find any work to support her family," she added.
During her visit, Veronica emphasized the importance of family planning education and balanced nutrition to achieve Indonesia‘s goal of becoming a developed country by 2045. She also stressed the need to educate parents about proper nutrition for their children from an early age to prevent stunting.
"Family planning education is crucial to ensure we have quality children. Children of good quality are well-taken care of, fed properly, and educated at high levels – key factors in achieving President Joko Widodo’s vision for Indonesia in 2045," Veronica explained.
She further stated that the free nutritious meal program is a critical initiative to combat stunting, starting from pregnancy. This program aims to ensure that children receive adequate nutrition during their first 1,000 days of life.
"Mothers-to-be sometimes forget that their wombs contain a baby who needs nutritious food. Whether they like it or not, children aged under five must be a priority. We must empower and educate mothers-to-be on providing healthy meals, a balanced diet of carbohydrates and protein, to ensure their children receive the best possible nutrition."
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(whn/whn)
