SAE (Healthy and Anemia-Free) Youth Ambassador Training as an Anemia Prevention Effort in Schools

Abstract

According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI), adolescence is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood, spanning the ages of 10 to before the age of 18. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of adolescent girls in Indonesia will reach more than 22 million in 2023 (BPS, 2023). Anemia is a common nutritional problem among adolescent girls and negatively impacts academic achievement, productivity, and reproductive health in the future. This community service activity aims to increase adolescent knowledge and awareness through SAE Ambassador training (Healthy Anemia Free) as a school-based anemia prevention strategy. The method used includes the selection and training of ten students from Semesta Vocational High School in Cimanggis District, Depok City with educational materials on anemia, health communication, and peer counseling skills. The training was conducted on February 8, 2025, followed by implementation activities in the form of counseling and peer counseling on February 15, 2025, and monitoring of iron tablet consumption for one month until March 15, 2025. The results showed that the SAE Ambassadors were able to effectively carry out their roles as educators and peer counselors, demonstrated by increased knowledge and awareness among the target group. The program also encouraged active student involvement in health promotion. It is recommended that the SAE Ambassador program receive continued support from schools and community health centers, and be replicated in other schools as a sustainable educational approach to anemia prevention in adolescents.