Parents concerned after a deworming tablet found in MBG package in Parepare
Parepare, Thekabarnews.com—Because parents found a deworming tablet in the MBG packages given to elementary school students, many people in Parepare City, South Sulawesi, are talking about the Free...
Parepare, Thekabarnews.com—Because parents found a deworming tablet in the MBG packages given to elementary school students, many people in Parepare City, South Sulawesi, are talking about the Free Meal Program (MBG). As a result, the incident has caused people to worry about safety issues. They are also concerned about how the government will give out its nutrition program.
On Monday, Feb 23, during Ramadan, people at a public elementary school in the Bacukiki Barat District got the MBG packages. A parent posted pictures and information about the MBG package on social media. This got many people in the area talking.
Ruslan, a parent, said he felt shocked when his child brought the MBG package home. He said that inside the box were a loaf of bread, a boiled egg, a carton of milk, and two dates. However, he did find a tablet of deworming medicine next to the food.
Ruslan wanted to know why they put medicine in the MBG package when the goal was to make kids healthier. He worried that children might take the tablet without adult supervision.
He said that his kid thought it was all part of the school’s lunch program. The practice made it more likely that students would believe the tablet was safe to eat right away. Parents worry that giving children medicine with food could be dangerous, especially for younger kids.
Since the event, parents and people in the community have been talking to each other more. Many people agree with the government’s plan to give away the MBG. Even so, they think that medical treatments like deworming should follow the rules. Additionally, they believe families should know ahead of time.
Some parents said that schools or health officials should send out written notices or hold social events before giving out medicine. Moreover, they said that effective communication would help people understand each other and make sure the product was safe to use.
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in Parepare has not yet said anything official about what happened. Reporters have tried to get in touch with the local coordinator to find out more. However, they have not heard back yet.
The incident highlights how authorities need to carefully design nutrition and public health programs for children. People who are watching say that big social programs like MBG need to have clear medical rules and be honest about what they do. In this way, they believe people will trust them.
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