Aqua Partners with Hospitals to Educate Families on Health and Quality Drinking Water

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - AQUA together with the parenting platform The Asian Parents are back with an educational initiative through the program "AQUA Goes to Hospital: Healthy Steps for Adem's Family", which was held at Mitra Keluarga Bintaro Hospital. This activity is part of a series of family health education that will take place in various major hospitals in Jakarta and its surroundings from April to December 2026.

Under the theme "Small Steps, Big Impact: Tips for Choosing the Best Hydration for Families", this program presents direct education from experts on how to choose safe and quality drinking water, educational activities, and direct interaction with mothers as decision makers for health at home.

Fella Falencia, Marketing Manager AQUA explained, this educational series was born from the common commitment between AQUA, The Asian Parents, and RS Mitra Keluarga Bintaro to support mothers in making the best choices for families, including choosing quality drinking water to support the needs of healthy hydration for all family members including children.

"Not only at home, our collaboration with major hospitals in Jakarta and its surroundings, Mitra Keluarga Bintaro Hospital for example, is also expected to maximize family health protection through quality hydration," he said in a written statement, Tuesday, April 29.

Dr. Adelina Haryono, Sp.GK, AIFO-K, Clinical Nutrition Specialist at Mitra Keluarga Bintaro Hospital, highlighted that many Indonesians are still unaware of the importance of adequate daily drinking water.

"Many feel they have had enough to drink, but in fact there are still many people who are deficient in fluids. It is recorded that about 1 in 5 children and adolescents and 1 in 4 adults still do not drink enough water [survey results]. In fact, our bodies are made up of about 50-60 percent water, which plays an important role in almost all body functions, from cell formation to maintaining fluid balance. Fluid needs vary, but in general children need about 1.2-1.5 liters per day, while adults are about 1.8-2 liters per day [Ministry of Health data]. And most importantly, don't wait for thirst to drink," he said.

Meanwhile, dr. Tria Rosemiarti, Dipl in Nutrition, MKK, Nutrition Design & Hydration Science Research and Innovation AQUA, emphasized that the safety of drinking water is still a challenge in Indonesia.

"There are still many sources of water that are at risk of being contaminated. Data from the Study on the Quality of Drinking Water for Households (SKAMRT) shows that 7 out of 10 households in Indonesia still consume water contaminated with E. coli, and only a small portion has access to safe drinking water [Ministry of Health data]. Boiling water can indeed kill most bacteria, but this does not eliminate heavy metals or other compounds that may be in the water, especially if the quality of the water source is not maintained [WHO 2011]," he explained.

Furthermore, dr. Tria explained that consumption of water that does not maintain the quality of its source will have a significant impact on the growth and development of children.

"The latest publication results of the International Journal, reveal that children who are regularly exposed to unsafe drinking water and contain water microbiological contamination, especially by the Escherichia coli bacteria, increase the risk of stunting by 4.14 times. These findings include data from several regions of Indonesia, including a comprehensive study in 13 provinces and a field study in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. This condition has the potential to have an impact on nutrient absorption disorders and growth and development which also affect height, memory, language ability, and academic performance of children at school age," he explained.

Almiranti Fira, as the Wise Mother of AQUA, emphasized that the role of mothers is very crucial in forming family hydration habits.

"At home, the mother is like a 'health minister' for the family. A simple choice like drinking water has a big impact, because children will imitate their parents' habits every day." Fira also shared practical tips so that families are used to drinking water without being forced, "Starting from small things, make sure the water is easily accessible, get used to drinking at certain times, and most importantly, parents must set an example. Good habits are built, not forced. Therefore, choosing water that is guaranteed quality is the simplest step to maintain family health every day," he explained.

Choosing safe and quality drinking water is not only for today, but is a long-term health investment for all family members. Through this program, AQUA confirms its commitment to continue educating the Indonesian people about the importance of healthy hydration while presenting quality mineral water products not only at home but also at health facilities or hospitals.

"By partnering with experts and communities, AQUA hopes to encourage changes in simple habits that have a big impact on the health of Indonesian families," concluded Fella.