Providing Sanitation Access In 12 Indonesian Schools, So A Step To Instill PHBS Since Early Childhood

Washing hands at school (Doc. Guardian)

JAKARTA The difficulty of school sanitation in Indonesia is still large. Data from the Ministry of Education and Culture noted that around 3.1 million students do not yet have access to clean water in schools, and 8.9 million children are still learning without proper sanitation facilities. The above conditions encourage the government to accelerate the implementation of the 2024-2030 School Sanitation Roadmap, which targets access to safe water and hand washing facilities as part of the achievement of SDGs Aims for Clean Water Access and Decent Sanitation.

In his statement, the Director General of Early Childhood Education, Basic and Secondary Education, Iwan Syahril, said that simple steps such as getting students to wash their hands with soap regularly were proven to reduce the number of absences due to disease that could actually be prevented.

In line with the ideas above, concern for sanitation access and a healthy clean lifestyle has become a priority for the Guardian of Indonesia. As a leading modern retailer in the official health and beauty sector, the company launched its first Guardiancares program in 2025 at SDN Kasin Malang, East Java. This year, Guardiancares will build wells, as well as renovate sanitation facilities in 12 selected schools in the Banten, Yogyakarta, and East Java areas.

Met at the inauguration ceremony, Malvin Tarigan, Head of Marketing Guardian Indonesia, stated that as part of PT DFI Retail Nusantara Tbk, the Guardian has been running the Guardiancares program since 2022 and has had a positive impact through various sanitation facilities. Through Guardiancares, the Guardian continues to be committed to helping Indonesian children get access to proper health and hygiene in the school environment. Until 2025, the Guardian has assisted more than 50,000 children, by providing sanitation facilities in 6 regions throughout Indonesia.'

Also giving his views on this agenda, Prof. Dr. dr. Erwin Astha Triyono, Sp.PD-KPTI., FINASIM., MARS., Head of the East Java Provincial Health Office conveyed that this Guardian initiative is a form of long-term investment for the future of the nation. Let's continue to improve collaboration and synergy between the government, the private sector and the community for the creation of a healthy, intelligent, and competitive next generation. Thank you to the Guardian Indonesia and the Human Initiative for their positive contribution to the people of East Java. The East Java Provincial Government is ready to support good steps for the health and a better future of society," he said.

Met on the sidelines of the inauguration, the Head of SDN Kasin, Yasin Kurniawan explained that with this assistance, students and all school residents are making it easier to implement Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS). "With the sink in front of the class, our students are easier to implement daily PHBS. We hope this forms a good habit from an early age," he said.