Parents of Gea Rezeki Disappointed by North Nias Health Department’s Statement Not to Carelessly Claim MBG Poisoning

The parent of Rezeki Gea, a student at SMA Negeri 1 Tuhemberua who is suspected to have been poisoned by the free nutritious meal at school, expressed disappointment regarding the statement from the Head of the North Nias Health Office in an online media outlet, which urged parents not to hastily claim their children were poisoned by the free nutritious meal without a prior medical examination.

The parent stated that they fully understood the intent behind the Health Office Head’s statement.

“As parents with limited knowledge of health, that is the language we can use based on the cause and effect that occurred with our child,” said the parent at their residence in Botogawu, Banua Gea Village, Tuhemberua District, North Nias.

They emphasized that the suspicion of food poisoning arose because Rezeki Gea experienced nausea and vomiting after consuming the free nutritious meal at school.

Subsequently, after a medical examination at the community health center, it was determined that the child had diarrhea.

“What we actually request from the relevant parties is to ensure that the food from the free nutritious meal kitchen managed by the Sahabat Erya Sejati Foundation is not contaminated with toxins or germs that cause diarrhea, which made our child sick as we initially suspected,” said the parent.

Therefore, they expressed disappointment with the Health Office Head’s statement. “We have reason to suspect that the district government, in this case the Health Office, appears to be defending the free nutritious meal kitchen, whose owner is a family member of one of the leaders of the Regional House of Representatives in North Nias,” they said.

The parent mentioned that their child has been bedridden for over a week after consuming the free nutritious meal, and despite the incident going viral, no officials from the North Nias District Government, including the Health Office, have visited to check on Rezeki Gea’s condition.

“I also do not understand whether the Health Office has examined samples of our child’s vomit in a laboratory to determine the cause of his diarrhea. If the North Nias District Government truly cares about this incident, they should inform us that the kitchen is safe and suitable,” they said.

Additionally, they questioned whether the Health Office has conducted an environmental health inspection at the free nutritious meal kitchen managed by the Sahabat Erya Sejati Foundation, thereby issuing a statement that the kitchen is safe, hygienic, and healthy.

“If such an inspection has been conducted, since when? Before our child fell ill or after? This is what we actually need, so that we can have peace of mind and trust in the free nutritious meal kitchen managed by the Sahabat Erya Foundation,” they emphasized.

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When asked whether the free nutritious meal kitchen managed by the Sahabat Erya Sejati Foundation in Sawo District has a hygiene and sanitation certificate, the Head of the Health Office stated that their office has not yet conducted an inspection.

“No inspection has been carried out there by the Health Office. Regarding the poisoning information, we have also not received any reports,” replied the Head.