Child Protection Minister visits MBG food-poisoning victims in Sidoarjo, pledges continued trauma support

Arifah Fauzi, Indonesia’s minister for women’s empowerment and child protection, visited children still being treated at R.T. Notopuro Regional Hospital in Sidoarjo after the suspected food-poisoning incident linked to the Free Nutritious Meals program.

The visit focused on the children’s condition after they became ill. Hospital monitoring indicated that those still receiving care continued to improve. Some children had already been allowed to return home after medical treatment and observation, while health workers continued to monitor those who remained hospitalized.

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The most important thing now is to ensure that the children are healthy and feel safe. After their physical condition improves, we also need to make sure of their psychological condition. If any children need assistance, including trauma healing, we are ready to coordinate and collaborate so they can return to their activities and studies comfortably.

Fauzi said recovery should not end with medical treatment. “The most important thing now is to ensure that the children are healthy and feel safe. After their physical condition improves, we also need to make sure of their psychological condition. If any children need assistance, including trauma healing, we are ready to coordinate and collaborate so they can return to their activities and studies comfortably,” she said on Sept. 5, 2026.

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Recovery does not stop when a child is declared medically healthy. We need to ensure that the children and their families receive the support they need, so the children can return to school and the boarding school feeling safe and comfortable.

She stressed that families and the surrounding community would play an important role in helping the children recover. “Recovery does not stop when a child is declared medically healthy. We need to ensure that the children and their families receive the support they need, so the children can return to school and the boarding school feeling safe and comfortable,” Fauzi said.

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection said it would continue coordinating with local governments, health facilities, the boarding school and schools, as well as other relevant parties. Psychological assistance, including trauma healing where necessary, will form part of the effort to help the children and their families resume normal activities safely.

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The recovery of the children is an important part of handling this incident.