Currently, the Health Ministry was in the process of drafting a Government Regulation related to health in schoolsJakarta (ANTARA) - A Health Ministry's official confirmed that the ministry was preparing a draft for Government Regulation (PP) related to health in schools.
"Currently, the Health Ministry was in the process of drafting a Government Regulation related to health in schools," the ministry's head of school age and teenagers' health team, Inti Mujiati, noted during the webinar on school clinic and healthy school program revitalization here, Thursday.
Mujiati later remarked that the ministry was in the process of holding inter-ministerial discussions regarding the draft of the government regulation related to health in schools.
She noted that school-age children and teenagers in Indonesia were currently experiencing various health problems related to nutritional adequacy, personal hygiene and physical activity, emotional mental health, drug and road safety, and reproductive health.
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To address these health problems, schools, as strategic institutions, should provide education to students and teenagers in leading healthy lives, Mujiati remarked.
Unfortunately, health conditions in the school environment still need improvement. More than 70 percent of classrooms at every level of education are in a poor condition, with one out of five schools not having access to proper water facilities, one out of three schools not having separate toilets for boys and girls, and three out of five schools not having access to hygiene, she pointed out.
Mujiati said that the food sold in schools was generally fried and packaged foods that were high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and food additives.
Currently, the government has several policies related to health in the school environment, including the Joint Regulation of the Four Ministers of 2014 on the Guidance and Development of School/Madrasah Health Businesses (UKS/M).
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"Moreover, we have the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Regulation Number 1 of 2022 concerning the National Action Plan for Improving the Welfare of School-Age Children and Teenagers, Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2017 concerning the Healthy Living Community Movement, Minister of Health Regulation Number 25 of 2014 concerning Child Health Efforts, and Law Number 36 of 2009 about health," she added.
The government regulation being drafted by the ministry is expected to support efforts to achieve optimal health in the school environment, both in terms of activities and budget.
"Hopefully, with a higher regulatory hierarchy, we will get more support not only from the four ministries related to school health. We also hope that this support is not only related to the integration of activities but also budget support," she stated.
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Translator: Suci Nurhaliza, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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