DKI Provincial Government Launches Healthy Children's Teeth Program, Targeting PAUD to Elementary School

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) has officially launched the Healthy Children's Teeth (GAS) Program as an effort to improve children's health from an early age. This program was launched at the Gendered PAUD Unit (SPS) Negeri Bale Bermain Rubah (Baru Bahagia), Pasar Rebo District, East Jakarta.

The launch of the program was carried out through collaboration between the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia (FKG UI). The GAS program is designed to strengthen the promotional and preventive efforts of children's dental health through a sustainable approach involving families, educational units, and communities.

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Rano Karno said that children's health is an important foundation in the development of Jakarta's human resources in the future. According to him, the quality of health from an early age will determine Jakarta's competitiveness in its transformation as a global city.

"Healthy children are the determinant of Jakarta's future progress. Therefore, efforts to improve health must begin at an early age," said Rano, Monday, January 19.

He assessed that children's dental health problems often escaped attention, even though the impact was quite serious on children's growth and development. Dental problems can cause pain, eating disorders, and decreased concentration at school.

"If it is not handled early, children's dental health problems have the potential to increase the burden of health financing later. Therefore, the Healthy Children's Teeth (GAS) Program is part of long-term health investment," said Rano.

Rano said that the involvement of FKG UI is an important element in the implementation of the GAS Program. The support of academics is considered to strengthen science-based health policies, as well as answering the challenges of children's dental health in Jakarta.

"We ensure that these education and prevention efforts are supported by strong puskesmas services and professional health workers. Maintaining health is a shared responsibility, both the government, academics, educators, health workers, and families," explained Rano.

The GAS program is said to be in line with various child health programs that have been running in Jakarta, such as free health checks (CKG) for schoolchildren and strengthening school dental health efforts (UKGS). Through the integration of the program, the DKI Provincial Government hopes that clean and healthy living habits can be embedded from an early age.