JAKARTA – The Disaster Management Center (DMC), of Dompet Dhuafa held a discussion entitled “Celebrating CollaborAction, Combating Pollution” with representatives from various sectors. The participants included doctors from RSUP Persahabatan, representatives from Remotivi, and Nafas.id. The discussion took place in Setia Budi, South Jakarta, on Thursday, August 24, 2023.
The purpose of this discussion was to provide a general overview of how to reduce the impact of air pollution and efforts to prevent the air pollution crisis in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta and its surroundings. It was emphasized that without collaboration between various sectors, including government, communities, public figures, and the media, it would be difficult to find solutions and take effective action to reduce air pollution.
“Air pollution is a very complex issue. It cannot be viewed solely from the perspective of Jakarta, the environment, or health. While the government has the highest authority, it also requires support from the community, civil organizations, and the private sector, like Nafas.id. Without collaboration, it’s challenging to find solutions and take effective actions. If we look at other countries that have been successful in addressing this issue, it is all the result of collaboration between the government, communities, civil organizations, and the private sectorn,” explained Nathan Roestandy, the Co-Founder & CEO of Nafas.id.
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Air pollution in several regions, including DKI Jakarta and its surroundings, has recently been deteriorating. It has led to various respiratory diseases, with acute respiratory infections (ISPA) being common. This happens because very fine pollutants enter the respiratory system and cause chronic inflammation.
Vice-Chairman of the Influenza Foundation and Specialist in Internal Medicine and Immunology Allergy Consultant, Prof. Dr. dr. Samsuridjal Djauzi, SpPD, KAI, pointed out that the current poor air quality could potentially increase the prevalence of influenza in Indonesia. Poor air quality increases the transmission and prevalence of influenza, which has been supported by numerous studies on the relationship between air quality and influenza transmission.
Based on data from the Global Burden of Diseases 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators, there are five respiratory diseases causing the highest number of deaths from respiratory diseases worldwide: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and asthma.
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According to the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the number of cases of respiratory diseases (ISPA) in Jakarta has increased to 200,000, four times more than during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that during the pandemic, ISPA cases reached around 50,000.
UNICEF has released research that indicates that 600,000 children die each year from pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, with air pollution being a major contributing factor. Children are more vulnerable due to their higher respiratory rate.
Short-term effects of air pollution on children include respiratory problems leading to pneumonia and asthma. If left untreated, long-term consequences can affect children’s growth and development, such as stunting, cognitive impairments, anxiety and depression, fine motor skills and gross motor skills problems, and behavioral disorders.
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Dr. Feni Fitriani Taufik, a Pediatrician at RSUP Persahabatan, stated that children are at high risk of developing respiratory diseases, including coughs and colds, if they are continuously exposed to air pollution.
“Children who are frequently exposed to air pollution are susceptible to Acute Respiratory Infections (ISPA). In the long term, their lung function and growth will be compromised, making it a persistent condition. As they enter adolescence, their susceptibility to diseases increases. It’s like a growing burden that should make them stronger as adults, but it’s the opposite – as they grow older, the risks they face become even greater,” explained Feni, one of the Lung Specialists at RSUP Persahabatan.
“So, what we can do is to avoid or prevent exposure immediately. This means wearing a mask when leaving the house, diligently monitoring air quality. If the Air Quality Index (The IQAir) is above 150, it’s already highly unsafe. If the air quality is poor, people shouldstay indoors. Reduce outdoor activities as much as possible. We need to be more attentive to taking care of ourselves to stay healthy and follow a healthy lifestyle,” continued Feni.
The media plays a significant role in educating and advocating for the public on air pollution and environmental issues in Indonesia.
Media should consistently cover these issues, not just when they are trending on social media. Journalists should also be knowledgeable and able to communicate effectively,” said, Surya Putra, as the Program Officer for Media & Democracy at Remotivi.
“This discussion was part of DMC Dompet Dhuafa’s effort to raise awareness and public participation in addressing the air pollution issue. They aim to find solutions at the individual, family, and community levels. Representatives from Remotivi, Nafas.id, and RSUP Persahabatan participated in this discussion. The goal is to ensure that future generations inherit a cleaner and healthier environment,” closed Arief Rahmadi Haryono, the Chief Executive of DMC Dompet Dhuafa.
The hope is that both the public and the government will become more aware and concerned about the air quality that threatens the Indonesian population, because there is no Planet B. Empower now. (Dompet Dhuafa/DMC/AMR)