Meeting High School / Vocational High School Girls In Cibinong, Minister Of Health Budi Asks For Routine Consumption Of Tablets To Increase Blood

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (left) talks with one of the students of SMK Negeri 1 Cibinong in the context of the #AksiBergizi/Antara campaign

JAKARTA - The Minister of Health (Menkes) of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin asked young women to start regularly taking blood-added tablets (TTD) to reduce stunting or stunting in children in Indonesia.

"The blood-added tablet prevents stunting," he said while visiting a number of schools in the Bogor Regency, West Java, Antara, Thursday, July 21.

In addition, he continued, taking blood tablets regularly can also reduce the risk of maternal death during childbirth and infant mortality at birth.

During his visit, Minister of Health Budi visited SMA Negeri 1 Cibinong, SMPN 1 Cibinong, SMAN 2 Cibinong, and SMKN 1 Cibinong in the context of the #AksiBergizi campaign in the form of giving TTD for young girls at school.

"It's my job to make sure my brothers and sisters have enough iron. One way is by giving blood-added tablets," he said.

In front of the students of SMA Negeri 1 Cibinong, he said that annually there are about 7,000 mothers die during childbirth and 25,000 babies are born dead due to iron deficiency.

With young women regularly consuming blood-added tablets, she hopes, it can prevent mothers from dying during childbirth and stillbirths.

"Now there are blood-added tablets that taste sweet because there is a little added sugar," he said.

Meanwhile, in front of the students of SMP Negeri 1 Cibinong, Minister of Health Budi also asked the young women to consume blood supplement tablets regularly to the next phase of life, namely marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth.

"If we have children and they are malnourished, their children will be stupid, people who are stunted have 20 percent IQ below normal," he said.

The Minister of Health Budi conveyed the same thing in other schools. On that occasion, Budi gave three tips to keep students healthy.

First, diligent exercise to be healthy. Second, eat a balanced diet. And third, taking iron tablets for young women to reduce the risk of death during childbirth and stillbirth and prevent stunting in children.

"So that's all three, it can reduce maternal mortality and stillbirths. Take blood-added tablets so that our children are not stunted and stupid," he said.

During the visit to the school, Minister of Health Budi handed over a lunch box containing eggs, milk, and blood-enhancing tablets, which were prioritized for female students only.