PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Health Office (Dinkes) continues to strengthen promotional and preventive efforts to improve public health. One way is by encouraging the public to take advantage of the Free Health Check (CKG).

The Head of Health Services at the Bandung City Health Office, Dr. Deborah Johana Rattu, emphasized the importance of early detection through the Free Health Check (CKG) program. She stated that early health checks can prevent diseases from progressing further and reduce medical costs.

"Many cases are only discovered when symptoms appear, such as visual impairment due to high blood sugar or uncontrolled blood pressure. However, these conditions can be mitigated early," he said in a talk show broadcast on Radio Sonata on Thursday (April 9, 2026).

He explained that the Bandung City Government is currently investing in promotional and preventive services, including the provision of health screening equipment. This measure is expected to reduce the burden of future medical costs, which are likely to be high.

The CKG program is open to all members of the public without exception, not limited to BPJS participants or regional zoning. Residents can access services at the nearest community health center or other healthcare facilities.

In addition, the Health Office also provides outreach services to communities. However, community screenings are basic, such as measuring weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure. For more advanced tests, such as EKGs, ultrasounds, and cancer screenings, residents are still directed to health facilities.

"From just a simple examination, we can predict health risks up to 10 years into the future. This is based on data and research," he explained.

The Bandung City Government is targeting at least 46 percent of its approximately 2.5 million residents to utilize this service. This target is considered crucial to supporting the creation of a healthy and productive society.

Meanwhile, the Acting Head of the Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) Division of the Bandung City Health Office, Dr. Dadan Mulyana Kosasih, reminded the public to remain vigilant against measles, which still has the potential to increase.

He stated that approximately 70 percent of measles cases occur in individuals who have not been immunized. This condition is one of the causes of the recent resurgence in measles cases.

"Measles doesn't just affect children, it can also affect teenagers and adults, especially if their immunization history is incomplete," he said.

According to him, currently, immunization recording is better through the Maternal and Child Health (KIA) book and digital systems such as SatuSehat, so that the public can more easily track vaccination history.

Dadan emphasized that measles immunization must be completed in three stages: at 9 months, 18 months, and a booster at school age, around 7 years old. However, many people still believe immunization is complete at 9 months, resulting in the follow-up stage often being missed.

Data from the Bandung City Health Office shows that immunization coverage at 9 months of age is in the range of 80–85 percent in 2025, while at 18 months of age it is still around 65 percent, below the target of 95 percent.

"In fact, booster immunizations at 18 months of age are crucial for providing optimal protection," he said.

Through these two main programs, namely Free Health Checks and strengthening immunization, the Bandung City Government hopes that public awareness of the importance of maintaining health can continue to increase.

"Health is the primary foundation of development. With a healthy population, productivity increases, and Bandung can continue its journey toward becoming a superior and competitive city," he concluded. (Bandung City Communications and Information Service/rka)