“This program caters not only to the needs of students in general schools but also to those studying in pesantrens, like the one we are in now. In other words, the government pays equal attention to students of madrasahs and general schools,” he remarked in Jakarta on Monday.
Umar, who also serves as the imam of Istiqlal Mosque, made the statement while reviewing the implementation of the CKG program at Asshiddiqiyah Pesantren in Jakarta.
The minister noted that the medical check-up initiative is a strategic government effort aimed at nurturing a generation of quality talent — a goal he believes relies not only on education but also on health and nutrition.
He highlighted that at Asshiddiqiyah Pesantren, the program provides comprehensive examinations covering 15 key health areas.
“For example, the program includes checks for dental health issues. It is amazing to see the government paying attention to such details,” Umar remarked.
He then emphasized that the government had shifted its healthcare paradigm from curative to preventive measures.
In this regard, the minister described the CKG program as a means to help citizens maintain their health, reducing the need for expensive hospital treatments.
“This is not about curing illnesses but about how to maintain health, since preventive steps may cost less than curative ones at hospitals,” he noted.
An expert from the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Adita Irawati, confirmed that the government would proceed with its plan to expand the program to cover children in schools overseen by the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry or the Religious Affairs Ministry.
“The government wants to ensure that all citizens of Indonesia have access to health services,” she remarked in Jakarta on Sunday (August 3).
The initial phase of the expansion began on Monday, involving 12 general and Islamic schools across various regions.
Since its launch on February 10 this year, the CKG program has served over 16 million citizens nationwide as of August 1, with a target of reaching at least 281 million people across the country.
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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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