Headline:
Indonesia‘s First National-Scale Nutrition Program Launches: Free, Balanced Meals for Vulnerable Groups
Article Body:
In a historic initiative, Indonesia has kicked off its first-ever national-scale nutrition program: the Free Nutritious Meals program. The program, launched under President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s ‘Priority Outcomes Acceleration’ (PHTC) scheme, started distributing meals in Jakarta on Monday, January 6.
The distributions began at around 7:15 AM WIB at the Palmerah Public Kitchen (SPPG) in Jakarta Barat. The nutritious meals included rice, fried chicken, fried tofu, long bean stir-fry, and orange.
Backed by a substantial budget of IDR 71 trillion, this program aims to reach 3 million beneficiaries across the country by March 2025. It targets undernourished children, school-aged children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers in 26 provinces, with distributions taking place at 190 designated points.
"We are grateful that the Free Nutritious Meals program started just 78 days into President Prabowo’s administration, marking a significant milestone for Indonesia as we launch our first-ever national-scale nutrition program," said Hasan Nasbi, Head of Presidential Communications. "This program is our first step towards ensuring adequate nutrition for underprivileged groups nationwide," he added.
According to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), each beneficiary will receive a balanced meal packed with essential nutrients to combat malnutrition. This initiative emphasizes the government’s commitment to prioritizing public health and supporting vulnerable segments of society.
