Mimika, Central Papua (ANTARA) – Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) and Free Health Check (CKG) programs are part of efforts to fulfill citizens’ basic rights, particularly the rights to food and healthcare.
Pigai made the statement on Tuesday while inaugurating the Center for Human Rights Studies at the Mimika School of Law (STIH Mimika) in Mimika District, Central Papua.
According to him, fulfilling human rights goes beyond addressing violence or legal violations; it also includes meeting people’s basic needs.
“Human rights also include the free nutritious meal program. Eating is a human right … the government’s policies on food are meant to uphold the right to life and the right to food,” he remarked.
Pigai stressed that any technical or management issues arising during implementation should be resolved so that the public can fully benefit from the program.
The minister also emphasized that access to healthcare services is a key pillar of human rights, particularly for communities living in remote areas that face limited access to medical care.
He underscored that regular health checks can help people understand their health conditions, allowing for earlier disease prevention and treatment.
Pigai further said that fulfilling the rights to food and healthcare must go hand in hand with government efforts to improve the quality of life for people across Indonesia, including in areas with limited access to basic services.
Targeting millions of beneficiaries nationwide, the MBG program was launched in early 2025 as a key program of the Prabowo Subianto administration to improve the nutritional status of children under five, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and school-age children.
The CKG program was also launched in early 2025 as one of the government’s key programs aimed at improving the health of Indonesians and reducing the burden caused by preventable diseases. With a target of reaching the entire population of 280 million people, the health screening program is set to become one of the largest in the world.
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Translator: Devi Nindy, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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