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Health Minister's Message to Schoolchildren: Exercise Regularly and Brush Your Teeth
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Health Minister's Message to Schoolchildren: Exercise Regularly and Brush Your Teeth

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Minister of Health urged students at a People's School to prioritize health through regular exercise and proper dental hygiene.
  • Nearly half of the students initially showed dental problems upon enrollment, highlighting the need for these health practices.
  • The initiative aims to provide quality education and health support to underprivileged children.

Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, has emphasized the importance of maintaining good health from an early age for students attending the People's School initiative. During a visit to the Rintisan 4 People's School in Bogor Regency, accompanied by the Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf and the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Sadikin stressed the need for students to brush their teeth regularly, maintain a balanced diet, and engage in consistent physical activity.

The important thing is to live healthy, eat enough. The most common diseases found are dental diseases. So you must diligently brush your teeth correctly.

— Budi Gunadi SadikinEmphasizing the importance of dental hygiene and healthy eating for students.

The Minister highlighted dental health as a critical area, urging children to adopt correct brushing habits. This message comes as initial health screenings revealed significant dental issues among the students. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf noted that "49% of People's School students had dental problems when they first entered." He also mentioned other prevalent issues like anemia and earwax buildup, underscoring the necessity of the health interventions being promoted.

Beyond dental hygiene, Minister Sadikin advised students to ensure adequate food intake without overconsumption, warning against the risks of obesity and high blood pressure. He also encouraged students to be physically active, integrating exercise into their routines to maintain fitness. Minister Yusuf observed a positive change in the students' demeanor, noting they appeared more energetic compared to when they first joined the program.

So 49% of People's School students had dental problems when they first entered. Then anemia, earwax.

— Saifullah YusufReporting on the initial health status of the students upon enrollment.

The Rintisan 4 People's School is part of a government effort to offer quality education to school dropouts, particularly street children, in the Jakarta region. Approximately 400 children who were previously out of school and engaged in street activities are being targeted. Some 100 children require preliminary recovery programs at Ministry of Social Affairs centers before they can join the People's School curriculum. The initiative is supported by the BNN, which provided space for the school's operations, following President Prabowo's directive.

Initially, they were all sleepy. Now, thank God, they look fresh.

— Saifullah YusufObserving the positive change in students' energy levels after health and educational interventions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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