Indonesia Builds Climate Change Resistant Health System

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the impact of climate change on the health sector is closely related to both infectious and non-communicable diseases. Climate change will also change the interaction between animals and humans, triggering the emergence of new diseases originating from animals or zoonoses.

"The loss of forests will make the weather hotter and animals will interact more frequently with humans. The more frequent the changes in interaction between animals and humans, the greater the likelihood of new pandemics," he said to the media after the signing event.

Climate change has impacted changes in rainfall, temperature, and humidity which in turn affect the spread of diseases. The Ministry of Health notes that a decrease in rainfall and temperature in Maluku has increased pneumonia cases by 96 percent and diarrhea cases by 19 percent.

In addition, according to Budi, climate change can also have an impact on the fulfillment of nutrition for the community because many food commodities will be threatened. On the other hand, the increasingly hot condition of the earth and the high exposure to radiation from the sun can increase the potential for skin cancer in humans.

The impact of climate change on health is what Indonesia must address. Efforts to deal with this can be done by mapping out pathogenic viruses and types of bacteria and their dangers. It is also necessary to increase research related to potential vaccines, drugs, and disease diagnosis that may arise from climate change.

"This effort requires a large budget, which is why there is the GCF willing to help. Although its capacity is not large, this support can become a catalyst for other parties to prepare budgets and research related to climate change scenarios," said Budi.

Also read: Diseases caused by climate change are before our eyes

The global GCF project is designed to enhance climate resilience in healthcare services through climate adaptation and mitigation solutions. The total funding reaches 35 million US dollars for seven countries including Indonesia, Madagascar, Nepal, Palestine, Thailand, Togo, and Vietnam.

The components of adaptation include strengthening and integrating early warning systems for climate-related diseases and their occurrences. Meanwhile, one of the mitigation efforts aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from healthcare facilities.

This project will involve a broader collaboration, including the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) for site selection and synchronization with national development strategies. Then, the Ministry of Finance will be involved as an authority to determine specific GCF project proposals for Indonesia.

Global program

The Officer in Charge of UNDP Indonesia, Sujala Pant, stated that the proposal initiated in this activity is part of a global program. Specifically for Indonesia, there will be a focus on certain projects that could catalyze funding from other parties.

"For the health sector, there are certain dimensions that we can see have the potential to be funded. So, this aspect is being discussed to contribute to the low-carbon health sector," he said.

Also read: Climate Crisis Increases Health Risks

Until now, UNDP has a large portfolio of climate programs that support climate action in nearly 150 developing countries. As much as 72 percent of UNDP's programs in Indonesia also focus on climate resilience and natural disasters. UNDP believes that climate change is an interconnected issue that requires integration across all areas.

WHO Country Representative, Paranietharan added that WHO is committed to addressing health threats arising from the impacts of climate change. The funding may not be large, but it is hoped to support efforts to address climate change in the health sector.