Pneumonia is still the main killer of children in Indonesia, especially those 5 years old and under. At least two children die every hour from pneumonia.
By
DEONISIA ARLINTA
·4 minutes read
KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN
Betumpal (1.5 years), a baby from the Orang Rimba group in the Terab area, Batanghari, underwent intensive care at the Raden Mattaher Regional General Hospital, Jambi, Friday (10/4). Nurses provide nebulization as a form of therapy for infant patients suffering from bronchopneumonia or inflammation of the respiratory tract and lungs.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Pneumonia is still the main killer of children in Indonesia, especially those 5 years old and under. At least two children die every hour from pneumonia. This condition is getting worse in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In fact, pneumonia can be prevented by giving exclusive breast milk (ASI), fulfilling nutrition, complete basic immunization, and ensuring the child\'s environment is free of smoke, especially cigarette smoke. Therefore, improving basic health infrastructure and increasing citizen awareness is necessary.
A development consultant pediatrician, who is also a member of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), Soedjatmiko, said in Jakarta, Thursday (12/11/2020), that pneumonia or acute lung illness is caused by bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The infection damages lung tissue so that oxygen delivery in the body is interrupted. The worsening of the condition can occur because the immune system of infants and toddlers is low.
"Children can experience shortness of breath, reduced oxygen in the body, even serious illness, until they die. "Low immunity is caused by many factors, including exposure to cigarette smoke and smoke or dust at home, not getting breast milk, lack of nutrition, and incomplete immunization," he said.
The 2018 Unicef data estimated that 19,000 Indonesian children died due to pneumonia, or every hour two children died from the disease. Global estimates said that every hour 71 children in Indonesia were infected by pneumonia.
Children can experience shortness of breath, reduced oxygen in the body, even serious illness, until they die.
KEMENTERIAN KESEHATAN
Pediatric pneumonia cases in Indonesia. Severe sick / hospitalized (Sakit berat/dirawat di RS) ; Babies and toddlers died (Bayi dan balita meninggal).
Based on data from the Health Ministry of Health, in 2019, there were 153,987 cases of pneumonia in infants aged less than 1 year and as many as 314,455 cases in children aged 1-5 years. The number of child deaths due to this disease was 550 cases. In 2020, 443 children died because of pneumonia. Indonesia is ranked 7th in the world as a country with the highest burden of pneumonia.
Given the importance of understanding the disease, November 12 is designated as World Pneumonia Day, which is celebrated every year.
Covid-19 risk
Soedjatmiko added that pneumonia also triggers the high number of children who contract Covid-19 in Indonesia. The proportion of the figure of Covid-19 cases in children in Indonesia is 9.1 percent.
That figure is higher than New Zealand (8 percent), the United States (5 percent), Australia (3 percent), and China (0.9 percent). The number of child deaths due to Covid-19 is the highest in Asia Pacific.
The mortality rate for children in Indonesia is recorded at 1.1 percent. In China, the Covid-19 mortality rate on children is 0.1 percent and Europe is 0.03 percent. Pneumonia is a comorbid that is most often found in child deaths due to Covid-19 in Indonesia.
"The pandemic is feared to increase pneumonia cases on children, while basic health services are hindered. In fact, the monitoring of the nutritional status from pregnancy to the age of children under five and complete basic immunization is needed to prevent pneumonia," said Soedjatmiko.
Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta
Illustration. Children playing floods on Jalan Raya Gempol, Gempol District, Pasuruan Regency, East Java, Monday (2/11/2020). Pneumonia is still the main killer of children in Indonesia, especially children under five years of age.
The chairperson of the Sayangi Tunas Cilik Foundation, which is part of Save The Children, Selina Patta Sumbung, said that even though the number of deaths due to pneumonia is high, this disease is frequently ignored. The awareness of citizens and all stakeholders needs to be increased to settle this problem.
Behavior changes
Integration that aims at changing the behavior to treat pneumonia on children needs to be disseminated. Protection of children from pneumonia is the same as ensuring basic health services for them. The high number of pneumonia cases indicates the low foundation of health in Indonesia in terms of related causes.
These include, among others, the fulfillment rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 54 percent, 10.2 percent for babies with low birth weight, 42.1 percent for complete immunization coverage, high exposure to air pollution, especially cigarette smoke, in confined spaces and high household density.
According to Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, the government is fixing the management of pneumonia on children. This is done by increasing access and quality of health services for children under five, early detection, exclusive breastfeeding, and expanding immunization coverage.
Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry Bintang Puspayoga added that all parties, especially families, are responsible for ensuring that children receive adequate nutrition. Unfortunately, the social construction considers that childcare duties are only the responsibility of women.
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