Risma Hopes PMI To Be Involved In The COVID-19 Vaccination Program In Surabaya

JAKARTA - The Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, hopes that Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) officials will be involved in the vaccination program or the injection of the COVID-19 vaccine in Surabaya, East Java.

Reporting from Antara, Saturday, December 12, Tri Rismaharini said the COVID-19 vaccination program is planned to be carried out in February 2021.

"So I hope PMI Surabaya will continue to carry out its duties not only in the mainstream in blood. Earlier I entrusted it so that we could help implement the COVID-19 vaccination. We definitely need a lot of officers, because the number is bigger than COVID-19 patients," he said.

In addition, he encouraged Surabaya residents not to be afraid or hesitant to donate their blood to PMI because PMI had anticipated and prevented the transmission of COVID-19.

"I really hope there will be no doubts because PMI is also accompanied by many medical personnel. Of course there is no need to doubt the professionalism of PMI officers," he said.

For survivors of COVID-19, Risma also hopes that they can donate their blood plasma to PMI to help residents in need.

"Because long-term (you) are healthy and safe from COVID-19. I hope that (blood plasma) can be helped for our brothers and sisters who are in need," he said.

For that, he said, the Surabaya City Government has prepared a new Blood Transfusion Unit (UTD) building as a redundant or reserve to support the Surabaya City PMI humanitarian program. The plan is for this new UTD to utilize the former Dukuh Kupang Sub-district Office Building in Surabaya.

Risma admitted, so far PMI has helped the Surabaya City Government. Not only in the context of blood, but in various other humanitarian social programs.