Wamena, Papua Highlands – On Monday, March 17, 2025, the National Nutrition Agency (NNA) in collaboration with provincial and regional governments in Jayawijaya officially launched the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. The program aims to improve the nutritional quality of the people in Papua, particularly students, following a delay since February 17, 2025.
The Chairman of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Group for the NNA in Papua, Wahyu Adi Pratama, expressed his gratitude for the program’s launch. “We initially planned to operate two kitchens to serve 7,000 students, but due to the unfortunate passing of one of our partners, the full implementation will resume after Eid. For now, we are providing 3,500 nutritious meal portions for students,” he explained. Wahyu also mentioned that the program would eventually expand to include pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children.
The launch event was marked by a communal meal in Wamena. In addition to students, Wahyu proposed that the nutritious meals also be offered to teachers as part of the program’s initial socialization. “This proposal was submitted to the National Nutrition Agency and has been approved,” he noted. Furthermore, special Ramadan meal packages were prepared for Muslim students and teachers to take home in honor of the holy month.
Jayawijaya Regent Athenius Murib emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness during the food preparation process. “Cleanliness must be a top priority to ensure that the food provided is safe, healthy, and suitable for consumption,” he urged.
The MBG program in Papua Highlands is expected to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the community, particularly for the younger generation. By providing consistent access to nutritious food, the initiative aims to inspire similar programs in other regions, ultimately improving the quality of life across the nation.
