Elementary School Children Can Check Free Hearts Starting September

Chairman of the Indonesian Heart Foundation (YJI) Annisa Pohan Yudhoyono (right) after attending YJI togetherness night in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Sunday night (27/7-2025). BETWEEN/Nirkomala.

MATARAM - The Indonesian Heart Foundation (YJI) will launch a free heart examination program for elementary school (SD) students as part of early detection as well as heart health education in children.

This program is planned to start running in September 2025, targeting elementary schools throughout Indonesia.

"We are targeting a free heart check for elementary school students starting in September," said YJI Chairman Annisa Pohan Yudhoyono, after attending the YJI Joint Night in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara, Antara, Sunday, July 27.

The event was attended by around 147 YJI representatives from various regions and became part of a series of activities at the VIII Indonesian Community Sports Festival (Fornas) in NTB. Also present were the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY).

According to Annisa, this program will be carried out directly to the school using YJI's portable heart check kit. That way, students do not need to come to health facilities.

"This program is more effective for prevention. If it is found early on, the treatment can be faster, easier, and cheaper," he said.

He explained that for the next two years YJI will tour elementary schools to screen the heart as well as provide education to children and teachers.

This move is considered crucial because the data shows that heart disease not only attacks adults but also begins to be found in children and adolescents.

"If heart disorders have been detected since childhood, the potential to save their lives will be much greater than it was only discovered in their 20s and overs," Annisa added.

This program is a continuation of YJI's previous initiative, namely "Heart at School", which focuses on education and early detection of heart risks among adolescents.

In these activities, students are also taught basic skills such as basic life assistance (Basic Life Support) in order to be able to become agents of change in cultivating a healthy lifestyle in the surrounding environment.

In addition to targeting students, Annisa also invited local governments to form more YJI branches at the district/city level. Currently, YJI has only formed in 147 regions.

"The formation of this YJI must be based on a heart call. Because of its voluntary nature, its presence must be based on the will and concern for the issue of heart health," he said.

On the same occasion, the Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) expressed his support for the YJI program, especially in encouraging healthy living campaigns among children and families.

According to AHY, heart disease is triggered by many factors, and early health education is the key to preventing it.

"This is not just the task of the government. There needs to be synergy from all elements, ranging from family, school, community, to formal and informal institutions," said AHY.

He hopes that through joint efforts, the Indonesian people can live a healthier, more balanced, and productive life in the future.