1,912 Students in Jayapura Benefit from Free Nutritious Meal Program’s First Phase

The Jayapura City Government has officially launched the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) to support the nutritional needs of students in the Abepura District. The program started on Tuesday, March 18, targeting 1,912 students from four schools: YPK Kristus Terang Kotaraja Kindergarten, Kotaraja Public Elementary School, and Vim Kotaraja Elementary School. The launch was led by Jayapura Mayor, Abisai Rollo, as a concrete effort to foster the growth and development of children in Papua through nutritious meals.

In his statement to the media on Wednesday, March 19, Abisai explained that the first phase of the MBG program coincides with the month of Ramadan. Therefore, the meals provided are dry food that students can take home. “Because the implementation falls during Ramadan, the meals provided consist of dry food that can be taken home. After Eid, liquid or broth-based meals will be given to the students,” he explained.

Abisai assured that although the meals provided are dry, their nutritional value remains tailored to the needs of the children. He emphasized the importance of maintaining nutritional quality in every menu distributed. “Although these are dry meals, their nutritional content remains intact. This is crucial to support the growth of our children,” he said confidently.

Furthermore, Abisai urged the community, parents, and schools to actively support the success of this program. He stated that the MBG program is a strategic initiative to enhance the quality of the younger generation in Papua, particularly in Port Numbay. “This program is very important for the younger generation of Papua. Therefore, I encourage all schools not to reject this program,” he added.

In addition, he highlighted the advantages of the program, which uses locally sourced ingredients from Jayapura City. Abisai emphasized that the quality and freshness of the ingredients are guaranteed, ensuring they meet the nutritional standards set for children. “All the ingredients used are sourced from Jayapura City, so their quality is highly assured. They meet the nutritional needs of the children,” he said.

This program is expected to be a significant step forward in improving the nutritional status of children in Papua and to make a positive contribution to their development in the future.