Tuesday, 15 September 2026
DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has called on the public and the media to stop making negative comments and bullying students who are suspected of being victims of food poisoning linked to the Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis/MBG) program in Karo Regency. Bobby stressed that public support is an important part of helping the affected students recover mentally and psychologically.
Bobby said a medical team in North Sumatra had provided medical treatment for the students. However, two students required further care because they experienced more severe trauma and psychological distress compared with the other affected students.The two students were subsequently taken to Jakarta for further treatment after the Vice President ordered direct medical care and monitoring of their condition. Bobby said doctors from North Sumatra continued to accompany the two students' treatment while they were in Jakarta.
"The Vice President requested that they receive direct treatment and that their condition be monitored. Two children experienced more severe medical symptoms and trauma than their classmates, so they were taken to Jakarta," Bobby said on Saturday, September 12, 2026.He explained that the psychological condition of several students required special attention following examinations by the medical team. Some of the affected students experienced psychological distress after being exposed to negative comments and cyberbullying on social media.
According to Bobby, the situation could further increase the children's psychological burden during their recovery. He therefore urged the public and the media not to aggravate the situation through comments that could place additional pressure on the victims."These children need to recover not only medically, but also mentally and psychologically. Some of them have been affected by comments and cyberbullying," he said.
Bobby believes the affected children need a supportive environment so they can gradually return to their normal daily lives. At the same time, he reminded the public that every child has a different ability to cope with pressure arising from an incident that has attracted significant public attention.In his view, excessive attention on social media could even hinder the recovery process if the public fails to take the children's psychological condition into account.
He said the decision to take the two students to Jakarta was related to the more serious medical findings and more pronounced trauma they experienced compared with the other students. The move also reflects the special attention being given to the individual needs of the two victims during their recovery.
Bobby hopes the public will view the suspected MBG food poisoning case not only from the perspective of the initial incident but also by considering the consequences that emerged afterward. In his view, the victims' recovery must be a shared priority so that the children do not continue to suffer from psychological pressure.In addition to receiving care from medical personnel, the students have also been advised to limit their social media activities. Bobby said this was necessary to protect their psychological well-being throughout the recovery process.
He also urged the public to respect the process and refrain from continuously posting comments about the victims' condition in the digital space.
Bobby appealed to the public and the media to give the students sufficient space to go through their recovery without additional pressure. In his view, public attention should focus on providing support rather than worsening the children's psychological condition.
Bobby said the public, particularly on social media, should exercise restraint when expressing opinions. Negative or degrading comments, as well as bullying, could have a significant impact on the children's mental health.He hopes all parties understand that the students are victims who need protection and support during their recovery. With a positive environment, their mental and psychological condition can gradually improve, Bobby said.
"For the sake of our children's recovery, we should not put too much outside pressure on them. Our focus must be on helping them recover," he said.Bobby stressed that the government would continue monitoring the students' condition and ensure that their treatment was provided according to their needs. He also called on the public to work together to create a safer environment for the victims, particularly by avoiding negative comments and cyberbullying.
The restoration of physical and psychological health, Bobby said, requires support from various parties. He therefore urged the public to show empathy and give the students the time they need to gradually recover. (IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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