[September Thematic Report] How Extreme Weather Affects Society’s Health Condition in Indonesia

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[September Thematic Report] How Extreme Weather Affects Society’s Health Condition in Indonesia
by Syahidah Charisa Nabila \| 24-09-2022 12:24 1
Extreme weather conditions are a serious environmental problem that has been happening for decades. This global phenomenon caused by climate change has a significant impact on various aspects of life, especially health. The negative potential and risk of extreme weather on health quality has been seen as a global challenge that can threaten human life. In terms of health, the spread of disease outbreaks such as malaria, cholera, and dengue fever is easy to increase when rainfall increases. The presence of the disease also breeds in hot and humid weather, where these conditions are the effect of erratic weather conditions. This unstable weather condition is caused by several problems, such as the increase in the use of fossil fuels and the change/transfer of land use functions. Both of these are factors that trigger the production of excessive pollutant exhaust gases, which causes an increase in the earth's temperature and is known as the greenhouse gas phenomenon. Some of the gas compounds in question include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (N2O). The increase in these gases causes an increase in the amount of heat trapped in the Earth's atmosphere, where heat from the sun will be radiated back into space. A number of external factors indicate the danger of extreme weather, including rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, and rising sea levels. The impact of extreme weather on health can occur directly or indirectly. An example of a direct impact is an increase in rainfall that exceeds the usual rate, resulting in flash floods, as often happens in metropolitan cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya. The indirect effect of extreme weather on health conditions is generally through mechanisms that trigger changes in environmental quality factors such as water and air quality, decreased water resources, decreased ecosystem functions, and land degradation which in turn has a negative impact on public health conditions. One example is the massive deforestation that took place on the island of Kalimantan (Borneo). This results in changes in soil quality, resulting in poor drinking water quality and endangering the surrounding community who consume the water for their daily needs. Several strategies can be taken to adapt to extreme weather conditions, including: - Socialization and advocacy on adaptation of the health sector to the impact of the phenomenon of climate change - Mapping of populations and areas vulnerable to climate change - Strengthening the early warning system for extreme weather conditions - Improved surveillance and health management information systems - Increasing the affordability of health services, especially areas vulnerable to climate change - Improving access to health services and the capacity of human resources in the health sector. (image source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/02/28/jakarta-among-cities-most-threatened-by-rising-sea-levels-extreme-weather-report.html)

Dormant user Syahidah Charisa Nabila

2 Comments

Minkyung Mentor

Minkyung Mentor says :
Hello, this is your mentor Minkyung.

Thank you for sharing the effects of extreme weather on health condition in Indonesia. If is always devastating to know how human activities can backfire on us. I hope the strategies that you introduced are effective, at least to some extent, and hope people try to constantly come up with means and ways to overcome the damages of climatic change.

Thank you for an interesting report!
Posted 30-09-2022 16:53

Junghyun Mentor Yoon says :
Hi, Syahidah Charisa Nabila!
This is your mentor, Yoon.

It is always shocking to know that certain human activities destroy the current system of nature, and the altered nature paybacks to humans.

You did well in providing examples of places directly impacted by the extreme weather. The strategies you suggested to handle the extreme weather are convincing.

Great work in writing the first monthly report about extreme weather!
I am looking forward to reading your next report!
Posted 24-09-2022 16:16