Health Minister Urges 'Sekolah Rakyat' Students to Brush Teeth and Exercise

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has urged students of Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) to adopt healthy habits, including proper teeth brushing and regular exercise. The message was delivered during a visit to Sekolah Rakyat Rintisan 4 in Bogor Regency, accompanied by Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto.

Minister Sadikin stressed the importance of dental health, noting that many common ailments stem from poor oral hygiene. He also cautioned students about their diet, warning that while adequate nutrition is essential, overeating can lead to obesity and high blood pressure. He encouraged the children to remain physically active and avoid laziness.

Social Affairs Minister Yusuf revealed that health screenings showed 49 percent of students had dental issues upon enrolment, along with cases of anaemia and earwax buildup. He observed that the students’ health has since improved, with children who initially appeared drowsy now looking fresher.

The school is part of a government programme to provide quality education for out-of-school children, including street children, in the Greater Jakarta area. Yusuf noted that around 400 children were identified as not attending school, though approximately 100 require rehabilitation at ministry centres before joining classes. The ministers toured the school’s dormitories, prayer room, and classrooms, observing a digital whiteboard maths lesson conducted in English.