Sungai Bela Village, Kuala Indragiri District, Indragiri Hilir Regency, hosted a Health Promotion Socialization and Free Basic Health Checkup event organized by the Mitra Insani Foundation on Wednesday–Thursday, July 14–15, 2026. This activity was part of an effort to improve community access to basic health services, particularly in coastal areas.
The activity, supported by the OCEAN (Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature) Programme, funded by UK International Development (UKI) for 2024–2027, collaborated with the Sapat Community Health Center (Puskesmas) health workers, consisting of doctors, nurses, midwives, and health promotion officers (Promkes), supported by Sungai Bela Village health cadres.
A total of 296 community members participated in the examinations, including the elderly, fishermen, and women.
In addition to providing free health checkups, the activity also began with education about Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). In the counseling, the community was given education about the importance of implementing Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS), maintaining a diet, increasing physical activity, and carrying out regular health checks to prevent diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and other health complications.
Following the counseling, participants underwent a basic health checkup, which was conducted in stages. Health cadres measured their weight and height, then proceeded to check their blood pressure, cholesterol, uric acid, blood sugar, and hemoglobin levels.
sustainable benefits
“This checkup really helped me. We’re busy with work these days. The community health center is also far away, so we don’t care about our own health,” said Yanti, a resident of Sungai Bela Village.
Through this activity, the community not only received direct health services but also gained an understanding of the importance of recognizing health conditions and preventing disease complications. The education provided is expected to encourage behavioral changes toward a healthier and more productive lifestyle.
The role of village health cadres was also a crucial factor in the success of this activity. From assisting with the registration process, managing the examination process, and accompanying the community throughout the activity, the health cadres demonstrated their commitment to supporting the improvement of community health in Sungai Bela Village.
The nurse at the Sungai Bela Community Health Center, Habibi, expressed her appreciation for the program, as it provided tangible benefits to the community.
“Thank you very much. With activities like this, many people can get health checks and receive treatment,” he said.
Through this activity, it is hoped that public awareness of maintaining health will continue to increase, so that the quality of life of coastal communities can improve through easily accessible and sustainable health services.
