Health Ministry strengthens education to protect public from El Niño Godzilla impacts

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health states that the El Niño phenomenon, including the ‘Godzilla’ variant, triggers a prolonged dry season with low rainfall, leading to spikes in air pollution and various infectious diseases, prompting the ministry to provide education for public protection.

Head of the Bureau of Communication and Public Information at the Ministry of Health, Aji Muhawarman, said in Jakarta on Monday that the phenomenon reduces the rainwashing process, so air pollutants are not swept away by rain and tend to accumulate due to stagnant air, inversion layers, and weak winds, even exacerbated by the risk of forest and land fires that produce haze.

“Increased temperatures and environmental changes can also trigger vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria due to water puddles serving as mosquito breeding grounds, as well as worsening water quality and sanitation that could increase cases of diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera, and leptospirosis,” he said.

He explained that health protocols need to be implemented for self-protection, including checking air quality via apps or websites; reducing outdoor activities and closing ventilation in homes, offices, schools, and public places during high air pollution.

“Using indoor air purifiers, avoiding pollution sources and cigarette smoke, wearing masks during high air pollution,” he stated.

Additionally, applying clean and healthy living behaviours (PHBS) to maintain physical fitness, conducting online or in-person consultations with health workers if health complaints arise, especially respiratory issues.

However, the impacts may not be uniform across all regions of Indonesia.

BRIN invites related ministries and agencies to mitigate by considering drought impacts in southern Indonesia and flood impacts in northeastern Indonesia (Sulawesi, Halmahera, Maluku).

The National Food Agency (Bapanas) states that the government is strengthening national food reserves to face the potential of extreme El Niño or “Godzilla El Niño” to maintain food supply and price stability and anticipate prolonged drought impacts.

In addition, Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo states that his ministry is preparing around 400 water pump units to support the agricultural sector in facing the potential dry season due to the Godzilla El Niño phenomenon.