The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) of the Universitas Indonesia (UI) collaborated with Pita Putih Indonesia to present SEMOL FPH UI Series 20 titled “The Impact of Climate Change on Maternal and Child Health.” This event was held in a hybrid format at the FPH UI Doctoral Promotion Room and online via Zoom Meeting and FPH UI’s YouTube channel.
“Climate change has a significant impact on maternal and child health, and therefore public health experts must be involved in mitigation efforts,” said Dr. Ir. Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo, M.Pd., Chairman of Pita Putih Indonesia, in his opening remarks. According to him, this discussion is crucial to generate sustainable impact. “Maternal and child health must be addressed together, so both can progress toward a healthy and harmonious life. Our discussion today is expected to produce beneficial and sustainable outputs for all parties,” he added. Dr. Ir. Asih Setiarini, M.Sc., Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs of FPH UI, also attended to give her welcoming remarks and officially open the event. Dr. Asih emphasized that, “As public health experts, it is essential for us to strengthen mitigation and adaptation efforts in response to climate change, particularly in addressing the issues faced by mothers and children.” The seminar was moderated by Dr. Budi Hartono, S.Si., M.K.M.
“Looking into the issue of climate change, according to the latest report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 2023, the global temperature anomaly for this year is recorded at 1.45°C. This makes 2023 the hottest year on record,” said Dr. Siswanto, M.Sc., from the Applied Climate Information Service Center at BMKG. He further explained that the impacts of climate change are not only visible in rising temperatures but also affect precipitation patterns, sea level rise, and changes in the cryosphere that impact ecosystems. He also highlighted future climate projections, where various climate indicators show concerning trends. “Extreme temperature increases will contribute to the rise in weather-related diseases, which greatly affect vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and children,” he added.
Astrid Salome, S.K.M., M.K.M., from the Ministry of Health of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI), discussed government policies on mitigating the impacts of climate change on maternal and child health. “As stated in the Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 in 2021 and COP 28 in 2023, the government is committed to strengthening the development and implementation of policies that maximize the health benefits of mitigation and adaptation actions,” said Astrid. Currently, 78 districts/cities have incorporated environmental health functions into their health sector contingency plans, with a target of 150 districts/cities in Indonesia by 2024. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with indigenous peoples and local communities in facing health challenges caused by climate change.
Meanwhile, according to Professor Dr. Budi Haryanto, S.K.M., M.Kes., M.Sc., from FPH UI, changes in weather, whether due to increased or decreased rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity resulting from seasonal or long-term climate variation, significantly affect vector population dynamics and disease transmission. “Unexpected increases in temperature and humidity can lead to disease outbreaks, which pose a major challenge for our health system,” said Prof. Budi. Furthermore, the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector results in limited access, availability, and consumption of food, which risks increasing stunting in children under five years old.
Stunting, as a chronic undernutrition condition, clearly affects children’s cognitive development, which will have long-term consequences on the quality of human resources in the future. This aligns with the findings of Dr. Wahyu Septiono, S.K.M., MIH., Ph.D., a lecturer at FPH UI. “We found that climate change contributes to the increasing frequency of diseases, especially those related to infections and malnutrition,” said Dr. Wahyu. He also mentioned a strong correlation between climate variability and health risks, which can be fatal for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children.
Furthermore, Professor Dr. dr. Sabarinah Prasetyo, M.Sc., highlighted the issue of unequal maternal health services in Indonesia between 2019 and 2022. “Our analysis shows a significant disparity in access to and the quality of maternal health services across provinces. Some regions still face difficulties in providing adequate services for mothers and children,” said Prof. Sabarinah. “Maternal and child health should be a priority, but in reality, many areas in Indonesia still fall far short of providing adequate health services,” she emphasized.
Ir. Wincky Lestari, Secretary-General of Pita Putih Indonesia, on the other hand, stated, “The attention to maternal and child health issues in the context of climate change is still relatively low. Therefore, there is a need for institutions that can raise awareness of these issues in public decision-making.” Pita Putih is an institution that not only gathers public aspirations but also acts as a bridge between the community and the government. “We advocate for the reform of maternal and child health policies and community-based programs to ensure safe childbirth environments during the climate crisis,” said Ir. Wincky.
Additionally, Dr. Heru Kasidi, M.P.H., from Pita Putih Indonesia, reminded that each individual has a responsibility to create a safer and healthier environment for mothers and children. Through close cooperation, it is hoped that every pregnancy and birth will be safe, and every baby born will survive across Indonesia.
The SEMOL FPH UI Series 20 seminar, organized in collaboration with Pita Putih Indonesia, emphasized that the impact of climate change on health, particularly maternal and child health, is an issue that cannot be ignored. Through in-depth discussions from experts and practitioners, this event became an important step in raising awareness, advocacy, and collaboration for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the health sector. (DFD)