Indonesia expands nutrition programs to combat stunting and support remote regions

Indonesia is intensifying efforts to combat malnutrition and stunting through localized interventions and national program adjustments. In South Tangerang, the city government is expanding 'Pos Gizi' (Nutrition Posts) at the village level to address stunting cases, including new detections in the Bakti Jaya area. Vice Mayor Pilar Saga Ichsan emphasized the importance of nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to age two, to ensure high-quality human resource development.

On a national level, the Ministry of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions (Kemendes PDT) has urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to prioritize the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program for underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. With 30 regencies classified as underdeveloped, officials noted that food and nutrition needs in these areas must be a priority. To facilitate this, the BGN has redirected resources by removing international and high-end private schools from the MBG recipient list, shifting focus toward more vulnerable populations and underserved regions.