Climate change poses growing threat to Indonesian children’s health

Pediatric specialist Dayu Purnama highlights how various extreme conditions resulting from climate change affect children’s nutritional status

JAKARTA, Indonesia (MNTV) — Climate change now poses a tangible threat to children’s health in Indonesia, carrying serious consequences for their growth.

Pediatric specialist Dayu Purnama highlighted how various extreme conditions resulting from climate change affect children’s nutritional status.

“Climate change also impacts children’s growth and development and can contribute to stunting,” Dayu told Radio Republika Indonesia (RRI).

She emphasized the critical need for specific attention to climatic conditions in the context of child health.

According to Dayu, extreme temperatures, such as heat waves, can lead to heatstroke in children. “Heatstroke can reduce children’s appetite,” she said.

This directly affects the adequate intake of nutrients crucial during growth spurts. If left unaddressed, this can lead to long-term nutritional deficiencies, she said.

Natural disasters such as floods further worsen children’s health. In such situations, access to clean water is often limited, increasing the risk of diseases contributing to declining nutritional status, Dayu said.

“If natural disasters like floods occur, clean water becomes scarce and can trigger diarrhea in children,” Dayu clarified. She stressed the importance of rapid intervention to prevent the deterioration of children’s nutritional status during disasters.

In emergencies, such as refugee camps, Dayu emphasized the necessity of ensuring the availability of high-protein food for children. Simple options like eggs can be a readily available primary source of nutrition, she suggested.

“If it occurs in a refugee camp, protein-rich foods, with the easiest being eggs, must be available for children,” she asserted.