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More than 8 million take government’s free birthday checkups
Around two-thirds of people participating in the free birthday health screening are women, according to the Health Ministry, with health workers detecting dental problems, hypertension, diabetes and obesity as the top four health issues found during the checkups.
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A health worker measures the height of a woman participating in the free birthday health screening program at a community health center (Puskesmas) in Serang, Banten, on May 15. Around 8.2 million people have undergone the free checkups across the country, according to data from the Health Ministry. (Antara/Angga Budhiyanto)
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our months after its rollout in February, President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free health screening program has seen 8.2 million participants, many of whom reporting smooth examinations by medical workers while hoping for more comprehensive checkups.
The national program has reached all provinces and is available at 9,552 community health centers (Puskesmas) across the country. Central Java, East Java and West Java are the top three regions with most participants, while West Papua, Central Papua and Highland Papua are provinces with the least participants.
Two-thirds of people participating in the free checkup program were women, according to data from the Health Ministry.
“Interestingly, more women have taken part in the screening, while men tend to be less diligent in joining,” Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said during a press briefing on Thursday.
Four common health problems detected during the free screening were dental problems, hypertension, diabetes and obesity, the minister went on to say.
“Dental issues are often overlooked by the public, while the latter three are major risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in Indonesia,” Budi said, urging more people to participate in the health screening.
Read also: Prabowo’s free birthday check-ups leave public cold
