Saturday, December 9, 2023, students of the Doctoral Study Program in Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) held an online international seminar with the theme “Breathing for a Better Tomorrow: Unveiling the Impact of Air Pollution on Our Climate and Health”. This seminar aims to increase public awareness of the relationship between air pollution, climate change and health.
”Climate change and air pollution are now a threat to our health. “This topic is very important to discuss, disseminate, and also look for opportunities for collaboration to solve it,” said the Dean of FPH UI, Prof. Dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc. in his speech.
This seminar presents Dr. Imran Prambudi, MPHM., Director of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, as keynote speaker. Doctor Imran spoke about “Overcoming the Threat of Air Pollution for a Healthier Future in Indonesia”. Currently, environmental health is also the focus of the Indonesian Ministry of Health. Environmental health, especially sanitation and hygiene, is included in the pillars of primary health service transformation. Respiratory diseases, such as tuberculosis and pneumonia, can be prevented through the environmental health sector. “For this reason, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has determined four areas to focus on controlling respiratory diseases, including air quality management, health service quality management, education, and promotion and advocacy,” explained Dr. Imran.
Furthermore, in the panelist session, Professor of the Department of Environmental Health, FPH UI, Prof. Dr. Budi Haryanto, S.K.M., M.Kes., M.Sc., raised the topic “The Tug of War: Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Your Well-Being” in his presentation. “Air pollution, climate change and human health are all correlated. Air pollution and climate change are also interconnected. “Both have an impact on human health,” said Prof. Budi. Climate changes, such as temperature, precipitation and natural disasters can increase air pollution. This ultimately has a negative impact on human health. Starting from diseases of the respiratory system, reproductive system, nervous system, to the risk of cancer, everything increases due to air pollution. Several strategies that can be implemented to control air pollution include reducing the number of motorized vehicles, implementing clean energy, ensuring adequate engine technology, and good land transportation management.
Meanwhile, Professor Bin B Jalaludin, Chief Investigator at the Center for Safe Air, University of New South Wales Australia, presented material entitled “Unmasking the Health Effects of Air Pollution Exposure Throughout the Lifetime”. Air pollution can have different health effects, ranging from irritation, inflammation, asthma, to lung cancer. In pregnant women, air pollution also increases the risk of Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies. “Pregnant women, children and the elderly have their own risks related to exposure to air pollution. “In Indonesian children, air pollution has been proven to increase the risk of impaired cognitive function,” said Prof. Jalaluddin.
Vice President of Climate and Environmental Health Vital Strategic USA, Sumi Mehta, Ph.D., then explained “Air Quality, Health, and Climate Conversations”. Vital Strategis, a global organization working in the field of public health, focuses its work on three areas, namely data intelligence, strategic communication, and advocacy, and institutional strengthening. “Environmental health is still included in the realm of public health. “We need collaboration between sectors to be able to control this problem,” said Sumi. Several steps that have been taken by Sumi and Vital Strategis include advocating for policies related to air and climate, strengthening emissions testing programs, and conducting education and health promotion related to air and climate.
Air pollution and climate change can have significant negative impacts on human health. The hope is that this problem can be handled seriously by involving collaboration between sectors. (WR)