Over 31,000 Students in Karangasem Undergo Free Health Screening for Early Disease Detection

The Karangasem Health Office (Dinkes) has implemented the Free Health Screening (CKG) programme for tens of thousands of students from primary school (SD) to senior high school (SMA). Out of a total of 82,188 students in Karangasem, 31,953 have undergone the screening, representing approximately 38.87%.

Head of the Karangasem Health Office, I Gusti Bagus Putra Pertama, stated that the aim of CKG is to detect or identify disease risk factors. If risk factors are discovered after the check-up, early intervention can be carried out more swiftly. “For us, prevention is better than cure. If we know the risks, we can take preventive measures more quickly,” Pertama said on Tuesday (28/7/2026).

Pertama detailed the number of students at each level who have undergone the screening. A total of 19,326 primary school students have been screened out of a target of 42,004, or 46.02%. For junior high school (SMP), 7,881 students out of a target of 22,518 have been screened, or 35.01%. Finally, 4,746 senior high school (SMA) students out of a target of 17,660 have been screened, or 26.90%.

“From the screening results, the dominant health issue for primary school students is a lack of physical activity, for junior high school students it is not having received the HPV immunisation, and for senior high/vocational school students the dominant health problem is elevated blood pressure,” Pertama explained.

The implementation of CKG, Pertama clarified, is carried out by a joint team from the Karangasem Health Office and community health centre (puskesmas) officers in each sub-district. Specifically for senior high and vocational school students, Pertama hopes the CKG examinations will be completed before 17 August 2026.

Pertama expressed hope that, in addition to teachers at schools, parents will also support their children in undergoing the CKG. The goal is for all children in Karangasem to be healthy and for early prevention to be possible if diseases are detected. “We hope that health check-ups can be carried out regularly, at least an early health screening once a year. If health check-ups are performed, it can suppress other variable diseases. Considering that serious illnesses are now beginning to shift to younger ages,” Pertama said.