Jakarta. Indonesia has launched a nationwide health screening initiative targeting 58 million schoolchildren, as part of a sweeping government effort to detect early signs of illness and improve the long-term health prospects of its young population.

The program, dubbed Free Health Checks in Schools (CKGS), kicked off simultaneously in schools across the country on Monday, with government officials visiting schools in Greater Jakarta to monitor the implementation.

“This health screening is crucial for early detection of health problems that children and parents often overlook,” said Abdul Mu’ti, Primary and Secondary Education Minister, during a visit to Cideng 2 Public Elementary School in Central Jakarta. “By doing this early, we can prevent long-term health issues that could impact their development and future.”

The screenings include general physical checks, mental health assessments, nutritional evaluations, and immunizations. The program builds on the earlier Free Health Checks (CKG) initiative, which targeted 16 million general citizens in its first phase. This latest phase focuses on students in elementary, junior high, and high schools across the archipelago.

Speaking at the launch event at Penabur Gading Serpong Junior High in Tangerang, Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutia Hafid said the CKGS is a priority program under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, following the Free Nutritious Meal initiative. “The goal is to reach every student in Indonesia, leaving no one behind,” she said.

The CKGS screening for elementary-level students covers 13 types of health checks, including nutritional status, smoking behavior (grades 5–6), physical activity (grades 4–6), blood pressure, blood sugar, tuberculosis, hearing, vision, dental health, mental health, hepatitis B, reproductive health (grades 4–6), and immunization history (grade 1).

Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono also inspected the program at Prestasi Global Elementary School in Depok, noting that mental health screening has been tailored by age group. For primary students, parents fill out questionnaires, while junior and senior high school students undergo direct evaluations for symptoms of anxiety and depression.

“Elementary students are not yet able to articulate their mental health conditions, so we adjust the method accordingly,” said Dante. He added that follow-ups will be handled by school counselors or local health centers.

The program also includes immunizations, with measles-rubella (MR) vaccines for first-grade students and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for fifth and sixth graders to prevent cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among Indonesian women.

Presidential Spokesman Hasan Nasbi, who visited SMAN 6 High School in South Tangerang, said while most students showed good general health, there were concerning signs of malnutrition and elevated blood pressure among some. “These cases need to be followed up to prevent more serious issues,” he said.

The CKGS initiative is part of the government’s broader Health Transformation agenda, and is being implemented in coordination with the Health Ministry, Education Ministry, Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.