Checkpapuanow.com – The Acting Governor of Papua, Ramses Limbong, announced that the Free Nutritional Meals Service, or the Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG), is now available in two regions: Keerom Regency and the City of Jayapura. This initiative aims to improve nutrition among schoolchildren in Papua and support the smooth delivery of the program across the province.
“Currently, the SPPG kitchen in Keerom Regency is 90% complete. However, the mechanism for distributing meals to schools is still under discussion due to Papua’s challenging geographic conditions,” Ramses said during a statement in Jayapura on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
One of the main challenges for MBG in Papua is the vast distances between schools, which complicates the timely delivery of nutritious meals. Ramses emphasized the importance of estimating the distribution time to ensure that meals remain fresh when they reach the students.
“If lunch is scheduled for 09:00 WIT, 10:00 WIT, or 11:00 WIT, then the distribution routes must be organized efficiently to avoid delays,” he explained, underscoring the importance of fresh meals for the children.
Location selection for the SPPG kitchens is also a key concern. The Acting Governor stressed that the kitchens must be placed strategically to minimize logistical issues during food distribution. “We want to ensure that the food delivered is not spoiled or delayed due to long distances,” he added.
The Papua provincial government emphasized that their role is to facilitate the program, with the actual execution being handled by the most capable parties. According to Ramses, the government will focus on enabling the necessary infrastructure and support for successful implementation, while local authorities take the lead in managing operations.
Looking ahead, Ramses expressed hope that the free nutritional meals service program would soon be expanded to cover eight regencies and cities in Papua. To ensure the program’s success, he urged local officials to work on finding more optimal distribution solutions.
The initiative aims to not only provide healthier meals to children but also address broader challenges faced by Papua, such as food security and access to nutrition in remote areas. As the program continues to evolve, it is expected to play a crucial role in improving public health outcomes in the region.
