Reasons To Be Ashamed And Still Able To Buy, Many Residents Of Palu City Undergo Isoman COVID Reject Rice, Milk And Sardines Aid

Residents wait for their families who are being treated for COVID-19 in emergency tents (Photo Via Antara)

PALU - Many residents of Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province (Sulawesi) who were exposed to COVID-19 and undergoing self-isolation (Isoman) at home refused to provide basic food assistance from the local government.

The Head of the Natural Disaster Section of the Palu City Social Service, Muhammad Aswar, explained that there were several reasons why residents exposed to COVID-19 who underwent isoman refused government assistance. Although the assistance was given without any conditions.

"They are embarrassed if the officers who brought the food aid came to the house, the people around the residence would know that they were exposed to COVID-19. They were worried that they would be shunned and ostracized. Therefore, they chose not to receive the basic necessities so that no one "People near his house know," he said in Palu City, Antara, Monday, March 7.

In addition, he continued, many residents exposed to COVID-19 who underwent isoman refused because they thought they were still able to buy basic necessities to meet their daily needs during isoman.

"They say give it to poor people who need it more. They can still afford it," he said.

Azwar said that the Palu City Social Service Office distributes basic food packages to residents exposed to COVID-19. Data on residents exposed to COVID-19 was obtained from the Palu City Health Office (Dinkes).

Every day the Palu City Social Service Office distributes assistance to 50 residents exposed to COVID-19 who are undergoing isomanism. The food packages contained, among others, rice, milk and canned sardines.

"We provided the basic food assistance through family members of the residents who were exposed. We also cooperated with the kelurahan and neighborhood associations (RT) and community associations (RW)," he added.

Based on data from the COVID-19 Data and Information Center (Pusdatina) of Central Sulawesi Province, as of Sunday, March 6, as many as 1,082 people in Palu City were exposed to COVID-19.

They are currently self-isolating, either in the hospital or in an integrated isolation center prepared by the local government in collaboration with the hospital.