A Graduate Student of the FPH UI (Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia) organized an online seminar themed “Prevent Anemia Together (CEMARA) with Iron Supplementation (TTD)” on Saturday, October 5, 2024. This event is part of the 19th Series of FPH UI Online Seminars, which was held for free and open to the public. The main speaker for this seminar was Mulyani Dwi Lestari, STP., RD., Nutritionist at RSUD Budhi Asih, East Jakarta, with Aisyah Farah Nisrina, S.Gz., serving as the moderator.
The event was opened by Dr. Ir. Asih Setiarini, M.Sc., Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs of FPH UI. In her opening remarks, Dr. Asih emphasized the importance of this seminar in addressing anemia issues among female students. Dr. Asih highlighted that anemia, particularly among women of reproductive age, including female students, is one of the main health problems that must be addressed seriously.
“The issue of anemia has existed for a long time, and even today, the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women reaches almost 48.9%, as reported in the Riskesdas 2018 results. This is a staggering figure, and its impact is severe, especially for female students who will eventually become mothers,” said Dr. Asih Setiarini. She also added that this seminar is an excellent first step for students to become more aware of their own health, especially concerning anemia. “Let us start from the FPH UI environment to prevent and address anemia. This is a major issue for us, especially for women,” she continued.
Furthermore, Mulyani Dwi Lestari, STP., RD., a Nutritionist from RSUD Budhi Asih, East Jakarta, presented the topic on “The Risk of Anemia Due to Insufficient Iron Intake and Balanced Nutrition Among Students.”
She stated that anemia is one of the main nutritional issues in Indonesia, particularly among adolescent girls. According to the latest data from Riskesdas 2018, the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls ranges from 27-48% in several regions, with around 32% of adolescents in Indonesia suffering from anemia—equivalent to 7.5 million adolescents. “Anemia is a condition where the body experiences a decrease in red blood cell count, which can lead to prolonged fatigue, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and chest pain. One of the main causes of anemia is insufficient iron intake, especially from animal sources,” Mulyani explained.
She further added that a healthy diet and balanced nutrition, with a variety of micronutrients such as iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamins, can significantly help reduce the prevalence of anemia among adolescents. “Adolescents who consume a balanced diet with sufficient portions of protein, fruits, and vegetables can reduce the risk of anemia by 25%,” she stated. Mulyani also discussed the importance of the 4 pillars of balanced nutrition, which include maintaining an ideal body weight, consuming a variety of foods, staying active and exercising, and practicing a clean and healthy lifestyle. For students, adherence to a balanced diet and iron supplementation (TTD) is essential, especially considering imbalanced eating habits, long menstrual periods, and increased iron needs during growth and reproduction.
“Although TTD distribution is relatively widespread, there is still a significant challenge in adherence to its consumption. Only 2.13% of adolescent girls consume TTD as recommended, which is 52 tablets per year. In fact, this supplementation is crucial for healthy future mothers and for preventing anemia, which can affect long-term health,” said Mulyani. She pointed out that adolescents often do not realize the importance of a balanced diet and iron supplementation to prevent anemia. As a result, the risk of anemia remains high, particularly among adolescent girls who experience heavy menstrual bleeding. “It is crucial for students, especially female students, to pay attention to their balanced nutrition intake and diligently consume TTD. This is not only for their own health but also to prepare themselves as healthy future mothers,” Mulyani stressed.
Mulyani also reiterated the importance of students, particularly female students, in maintaining their health through a balanced diet and compliance with TTD consumption. “Students are the future generation, and good health starts now. By preventing anemia, we can prepare ourselves to be healthy, productive individuals, ready to face the challenges of the future,” she concluded at the end of the session.
This seminar is expected to enhance participants’ understanding of the importance of preventing anemia and increase awareness about personal health through balanced nutrition. FPH UI continually strives to ensure that events like this encourage students to care more about their health for a healthier and brighter future. (DFD)