Beware of Extreme Drought, Risk of Diarrhea and ISPA Increases

JAKARTA - The extreme dry season often has an impact on public health, especially the increased risk of diseases related to environmental hygiene and air quality.

The drought condition can reduce the availability of clean water and trigger the spread of infectious diseases, so vigilance is important.

The Lebak Regency Government, Banten, appeals to the public to increase vigilance against diseases such as diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ISPA) in the midst of the potential for extreme drought or the El Nino phenomenon predicted by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Head of the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases of the Lebak Regency Health Office, Nining Tilawah, emphasized the importance of implementing Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) as the main step in prevention. He hopes that people will get used to a healthy lifestyle to avoid various infectious diseases.

According to him, long droughts can increase the risk of diarrhea due to reduced access to clean water. This condition encourages some people to use less hygienic water, so it has the potential to trigger the spread of the disease. In addition, the habit of defecating indiscriminately is also a factor that increases the risk of diarrhea in various regions.

On the other hand, drought can also trigger respiratory disorders such as ISPA. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, dry cough, mild fever, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. If not handled properly, this condition can develop into something more serious.

To anticipate this, the public is urged to maintain environmental cleanliness, ensure the use of clean water, and implement healthy living habits. Consuming nutritious food, fruits and vegetables, and getting enough rest are also important parts of maintaining body resistance.

The local Health Office also instructed all puskesmas in 28 sub-districts to increase socialization related to PHBS and environmental cleanliness to the community. This education includes the importance of cooking water to be cooked, washing hands before eating, and avoiding habits that can lower health such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of sleep.

With the implementation of a healthy lifestyle consistently, it is hoped that the community can reduce the risk of disease spread during the extreme dry season.