Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs has begun extending the Free Health Check (CKG) program to dhammaseka, or Buddhist schools, starting with Karuna Elementary Dhammaseka in Tangerang, Banten.

"This initiative follows Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar's directive that students of all religious schools must have access to medical services," the ministry's Director General of Buddhist Guidance, Supriyadi, remarked in Tangerang on Friday.

At the Buddhist school on Java's northern coastline, dozens of pupils underwent free medical examinations in various areas, including height and weight measurements; eye, ear, and dental health checks; nutritional assessments; and fitness evaluations.

Supriyadi emphasized that Karuna Elementary Dhammaseka serves as the starting point for expanding the CKG program to all Buddhist schools nationwide, noting that the ministry plans to bring the initiative to similar schools in Medan, North Sumatra, and Surabaya, East Java.

"We will soon extend the program's coverage to at least four other locations," Supriyadi remarked. "The target is for the program to reach about 1,600 dhammaseka students nationwide," the director general noted.

He underlined that the CKG program reflects the government's commitment to building a healthy generation, paving the way toward realizing the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.

With this in mind, he confirmed the ministry’s determination to swiftly broaden the program's reach.

Meanwhile, Chair of the Karuna Dhammaseka Foundation, Muljadi, stated that the CKG program not only raises pupils' health awareness but also supports teaching and learning activities at the school.

"Our hope is for the government to be consistent in implementing the program to harness its potential to produce a higher-quality generation," he stated.

As of August 3, 2025, the CKG program had reached about 16 million residents nationwide, aiming to serve 60 million beneficiaries by year-end, including through its implementation at 282 thousand schools.

The government officially expanded the program—first launched in February 2025—to schoolchildren on August 4, starting with 12 schools across several regions.



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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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