In Indonesia, over 1,000 schoolchildren reported food poisoning linked to a free meals program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto. This recent incident is part of a series of mass food poisoning cases associated with the government’s initiative, which aims to provide nutritious lunches to approximately 80 million students. Yuyun Sarihotima, the head of the Cipongkor Community Health Center, confirmed that 1,074 children fell ill between Monday and Wednesday of the current week alone. This follows an earlier outbreak that affected 800 students in West Java and Central Sulawesi.
The program has drawn criticism from non-governmental organizations that are urging authorities to suspend it amid rising health concerns. Despite these calls, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar stated there are no intentions to halt the program. Recent victims displayed symptoms including stomach pain and dizziness, with some experiencing shortness of breath, which is less typical of food poisoning cases. Previous food poisoning events connected to the program were attributed to poor food preparation practices.
In Cipongkor, where this week’s first poisoning case occurred, the number of affected students grew to 500 within days. Reports also indicate that from January to September, there were over 4,700 documented cases of food poisoning linked to the scheme, although local NGO estimates suggest this number might be higher.
The program’s large-scale implementation, costing over $28 billion, aims to tackle malnutrition, a significant issue affecting many children in the region. Nonetheless, critics have highlighted issues such as the effectiveness and management of the initiative, questioning whether alternative solutions, such as allowing direct fund distributions to parents, might be more beneficial. As the program continues, concerns linger regarding its potential for corruption amidst its already high financial costs.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg91y15l7qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss