Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health problems and nutrition are the main issues covered by the National Action Plan for the Improvement of School-Aged Children and Teenagers’ Prosperity (RAN Pijar), the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has said.

Health and nutritional problems comprise physical and mental health and capacity as well as optimal nutritional status and eating patterns, the ministry's nutritional resilience and health promotion assistant deputy, Jelsi Natalia Marampa, informed after the “Strategic Policy Dialogue on School Children's Nutrition,” which was streamed online on Tuesday.

"To this end, the government has continued to expand quality health and nutritional service access," she said.

This has been undertaken through the provision of quality physical and mental health services, strengthening nutrition programs that support optimal nutritional status and diet, and increasing physical activities for school-aged children and teenagers.

“Moreover, (the efforts also include) handling the issue of child marriage and school-aged children reproductive health," she added.

The government is also working to improve the nutritional status and eating patterns of school-aged children through the school health canteen program as well as education and dissemination bolstering.

Another key issue stipulated within RAN Pijar is school-aged children's relationship with their parents, peers, and teachers, Marampa said.

The next issue is ensuring a safe environment and supporting school-aged children and teenagers' development.

RAN Pijar also covers education and skills’ access and quality as well as the resiliency of school-aged children and teenagers in terms of behavior.

"RAN Pijar aims to improve health and nutritional status, ensure children have the opportunity to positively contribute to their families, society, and environment, and create a safe environment and support children's development," Marampa informed.

The action plan was unveiled on April 9, 2022, with the support of a number of ministers and institution heads.

One of its goals is to improve the nutritional status and health of school-aged children, in accordance with the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture’s Regulation No. 1 of 2022 on RAN Pijar.

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Translator: Wuryanti P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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