For subscribers
Nationwide screenings uncover early signs of hypertension in children in Indonesia
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
Around 22.1 per cent of the children examined had blood pressure above normal levels for their age.
PHOTO: AFP
JAKARTA – Around 663,000 schoolchildren screened in 2026 in the Indonesian government’s free health check programme were found to have high blood pressure, raising concern over underlying conditions such as kidney damage linked to unhealthy lifestyles and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Government Communication Agency (GCA) head Muhammad Qodari said the screenings were conducted from Jan 1 to May 3 and involved around 4.8 million students at 48,000 schools nationwide, which generated data showing that around 22.1 per cent of the children examined had blood pressure above normal levels for their age.
