IDAI: Children are the group most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change

The Central Board of the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) has reminded the public that children are the group most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because their immune systems and respiratory organs are still in the developmental stage. Dr. dr. Riyadi, Sp.A. Subsp.Inf.P.T(K), M.Kes, a member of IDAI’s Environmental Health and Climate Change Task Force, said exposure to air pollution, temperature shifts, and deteriorating environmental quality can increase the risk of various diseases in children. “Children are vulnerable to pollutants because their airways are narrower and still immature, and their immune systems are only just beginning to develop,” Riyadi stated during an IDAI media seminar to commemorate Environment Day, Tuesday. According to him, the impact of climate change on children’s health can even begin during pregnancy. Exposure to air pollution and heavy metals has the potential to disrupt foetal growth and increase the risk of health problems in early life. “Exposure to air pollution can affect development starting from within the womb. Growth inhibition occurs from the foetal stage, leading to low birth weight, and increasing the risk of infection in the first years of life,” he explained. Besides infectious diseases, long-term exposure to pollution can weaken the body’s defence system, making children more susceptible to illness. He added that good environmental quality is an important factor in supporting optimal child growth and development. Therefore, efforts to control pollution, improve sanitation, and protect the environment must be a shared concern. “A healthy earth means we are also healthy. Everyone plays a role in protecting the environment because it has a direct impact on public health, especially children,” Riyadi concluded.