Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen Indonesia’s human resource development through a preventive health approach targeting children from an early age. One concrete step that is currently receiving widespread attention is addressing the problem of cavities in children through the Free Health Check Program (CKG).
The latest data from the CKG implementation shows that dental health remains a serious challenge. Based on screening results of 4.8 million children in 48,000 schools across Indonesia from January to early May 2026, approximately 41 percent, or 1.1 million children, had cavities.
The Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency, Muhammad Qodari, emphasized that these findings are an important wake-up call for all parties to take the health of Indonesian children more seriously.
“The results are as follows: 41 percent, or 1.1 million children, had cavities, and 22.1 percent, or 663,000 children, experienced high blood pressure,” said Qodari.
According to Qodari, the presence of the CKG actually proves that the government is taking an early action in detecting various hidden health problems in children. With widespread and integrated screening, the government now has stronger baseline data to determine targeted interventions.
Echoing this sentiment, the Director General of Primary and Community Health at the Ministry of Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi, stated that cavities still dominate the health issues of Indonesian children, especially among toddlers and premature children.
“The main problem in toddlers is cavities. It accounts for 31 percent. This means that one in three children suffers from caries,” Maria explained.
She emphasized that dental health has a significant impact on children’s growth and development, including nutritional intake, learning ability, and overall quality of life.
Various groups also consider the government’s action through the CKG to be a highly relevant policy strategy to address the health challenges of today’s young generation. Ashabul Kahfi, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), stated that findings on the health of schoolchildren should be a concern for all elements of the nation.
He believes that the CKG results should not remain merely statistical data but must be followed by concrete steps to build a culture of healthy living in schools and families.
“School canteens need to be healthier, physical activity needs to be strengthened, nutrition education must be incorporated into students’ daily lives, and parents need to be involved,” he continued.
Ashabul Kahfi also emphasized the importance of the national health screening program.
“This is precisely where the CKG program is crucial. Without screening, we might not be aware of hidden health problems in our children, from cavities to high blood pressure,” he concluded.
Several dental health experts also warn that cavities can affect a child’s ability to chew food, thus impacting their daily nutritional needs and growth and development. Therefore, the government’s move to expand the reach of child health checks is considered a long-term investment in the quality of the nation’s future generation.
Through the CKG program, the government demonstrates a strong commitment to building a more preventative, inclusive, and accessible health system for all levels of society. This effort demonstrates that the current government is not only focused on physical development, but is also serious about ensuring that Indonesian children grow up healthy, strong, and have a better quality of life for Indonesia’s increasingly advanced future.***