Free checks expected to raise university students' health awareness

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology expected the government's free health screening program to help raise awareness of preventive care and health among university students.

Deputy Minister Stella Christie emphasized the importance of raising such awareness among Indonesia's nine million university students, as they often overlook the need to maintain personal health due to perceiving themselves as young and healthy.

"We should instead promote the habit of screening our personal health from a younger age," Christie stated after participating in the free health screening at Cakung Public Health Centre in East Jakarta on Monday.

"The health screening is free of charge. They need only to spend a little time as the process is outstandingly organized," she remarked.

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The deputy minister explained that the program enables individuals to be aware of their health status and encourages them to maintain their health.

She noted that the health screening is comprehensive, age-appropriate, and includes psychiatric evaluations.

The deputy minister stated that by shifting the focus of health services from curative to preventive care, significant savings could be achieved in personal medical treatment costs and the state budget for healthcare programs.

"I call university students, lecturers, rectors, and higher education leaders, let us check our health together," Christie remarked.

The free health screening program, targeting 280 million Indonesians, commenced on Monday, with the goal of ensuring equitable access to health services for all Indonesians.

President Prabowo Subianto views the health screening program as an initiative that is on par with similar initiatives carried out in developed countries.

The program is part of Asta Cita, the eight main missions of the government under President Prabowo's leadership and is one of the eight quick-win programs of the government after the Free Nutritious Meals that commenced on January 6.