Health-focused non-governmental organisations on Monday urged the Indonesian government to temporarily halt President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free school meals programme, days after 500 children became sick in the biggest mass food poisoning outbreak so far.
Food poisoning from the free meals has affected 6,452 children nationwide, which was "a systemic failure," Network for Education Watch (JPPI) head Ubaid Matraji told a parliamentary committee, saying the government must stop the programme to put in place stronger oversight.
The $10 billion programme has reached more than 20 million recipients since its January launch, and is rapidly being scaled up in a bid to reach 83 million women and children by year end. But the programme has faced a number of setbacks in supplies and preparation.
The committee overseeing health issues was briefed on the concerns about the programme by six NGOs, including the Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), Movement for Mother and Child Health, and Network for Education Watch.
CISDI, which also proposed the suspension of the programme, was concerned there was no mechanism set by the government to evaluate kitchens with food poisoning cases or to prevent such outbreaks, its senior analyst Iqbal Hafizon, told the hearing.
The NGOs also urged the National Nutrition Agency, which runs the scheme, to pay more attention to the nutritional value of the food provided, saying that most of the menu still used ultra-processed items, which are considered unhealthy.
"The distribution of ultra-processed food has changed the main goal of providing nutritious food and it could trigger non-communicable diseases," said doctor Tan Shot Yen of the Mother and Child Movement.
She said her organisation proposed a suspension of the free meals initiative in kitchens with food poisoning cases.
The committee's deputy head Charles Honoris promised to deliver these proposals to the National Nutrition Agency, but reiterated that the programme is strategic and will be executed.
This year's 171 trillion rupiah ($10.30 billion) budget is expected to be doubled next year.
In a news conference on Monday, the head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, did not respond to questions on the calls for the suspension of the project, but said the agency regrets the food poisoning cases.
He also said that out of 1 billion portions served there had been 4,711 cases of suspected poisoning and that the government would investigate.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign and ratify their peace agreement as soon as possible, calling it a...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling t...
Asian stocks plunged to their lowest level in more than two months on Tuesday as advances by Chinese chipmakers rattled investor confidence in the ...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students protesting outside a school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Tuesday, as a wave of student demonstrations continues across France.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a newly opened defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to discuss measures to tackle transboundary haze during preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, as forest and land fires in Indonesia continue to affect air quality across the region, the Philippines said on Tuesday.
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the United Kingdom believes Iran was likely behind an alleged plot connected to RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire in England that has played a role in U.S. operations against Iran, escalating tensions between London and Tehran.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment