In brief
Indonesia’s University of Indonesia faculty has demanded enhanced fire‑prevention and health‑monitoring programs to guard children and other at‑risk populations from the harmful effects of forest and land fire haze. The call stresses a multidisciplinary, evidence‑based approach and points out long‑term health risks such as impaired lung growth, asthma, COPD, stunted growth and cognitive problems.
In Jakarta, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia, through its Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute (IMERI), issued a statement this week calling for stronger fire prevention and health monitoring to protect children and other vulnerable groups from the negative impacts of forest‑and‑land fire haze.
Dean Anna Rozaliyani said that human health must be central to environmental protection efforts. She warned that forest fires "are not just about smoke. They threaten health, safety and future generations," and that preventing exposure, identifying risks early and providing follow‑up must be based on science and cross‑disciplinary cooperation.
"Forest and land fires are not just about smoke. They threaten health, safety and future generations. Preventing exposure, identifying risks early and providing follow‑up must be grounded in science and cross‑disciplinary cooperation," she said.
IMERI director Bernie Endyarni Medise emphasized that protecting children from smoke exposure requires sustained action, not only emergency measures when haze becomes severe. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary because smoke affects people differently depending on individual health, exposure levels and environmental factors. People at increased risk—including children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and exposed workers—need protection tailored to their risk levels.
Pediatric respiratory specialist Nastiti Kaswandani of the Indonesian Pediatric Society and the university warned that smoke exposure can cause more than acute respiratory problems. Children chronically exposed to smoke may face lasting impairment of lung development and higher risks of persistent asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stunted growth and cognitive problems. Children are especially vulnerable because their lungs are still developing, their airways are narrower, and they breathe faster, which increases the amount of smoke inhaled.
