JAYAPURA—The Acting Governor of Papua, Ramses Limbong, inspected the kitchen of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Keerom Regency on Wednesday (12/2/2024). This review was carried out to ensure the readiness to carry out the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, which is still in the coordination stage related to its implementation mechanism.

"I have checked it, there is already a head of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit. I also reviewed the standard operating procedures, including who will be involved in this program," said Ramses.

Ramses said that the supply of food for the Free Nutritious Meal program, especially vegetables and other sources of nutrition, will not be the main obstacle in Keerom Regency. The Papua Provincial Government targets piloting this program first in three regions: Keerom Regency, Jayapura Regency, and Jayapura City.

"We will see the implementation later, but for the first stage, I want this program to run in the three regions," he said.

According to Ramses, the physical readiness of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit in Keerom has reached 90 percent. However, the mechanism for distributing food to schools still needs to be discussed further, given the challenging geographical conditions of Papua.

"In Papua, the distance between one school and another is quite far away. Therefore, I asked the Head of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit to calculate the estimated time for food distribution. If lunch is set at 09.00, 10.00, or 11.00, then the distribution route must be calculated so that there are no delays," he explained.

To support the smooth running of the Free Nutritious Meal program, Ramses stated that the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit of Keerom will involve residents, village officials, community organizations, and churches in its implementation.

"The provincial government only facilitated. Later who will be the most prepared, they will play a role in the execution of this program," he said.

Currently, he continued, Papua only has two Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units, namely in Keerom and Waena Regencies, Jayapura City. According to Ramses, the food distribution mechanism still needs to be adjusted to local conditions, considering that in the technical instructions of the program, one Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit should serve 3,000 beneficiaries within a maximum radius of six kilometers.

"However, in Papua, schools are spread over a longer distance. Maybe there will be exceptions later, for example, certain schools are managed independently. This is what still needs to be coordinated," he said.

Ramses has also appointed Assistant II of the Papua Provincial Government to coordinate with the district/city government to record the location of the school and determine strategic kitchen points.

"The determination of the location of the kitchen must be relevant. Don't let the kitchen be too far from the school, because we want to make sure the food is not stale or experiencing distribution problems," he said. ***