A Budget Of Rp. 54 Billion For Handling Of Corona DKI Which Is Considered To Be Insufficient

Checking the temperature at City Hall to prevent the corona virus (Photo: DKI Pemprov Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has disbursed IDR 54 billion for handling and prevention of transmission of the corona virus or COVID-19 which is handled by the COVID-19 Response Team. The money will be used for the completeness of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel and disinfectants.

This budget comes from unexpected costs (BTT) for the 2020 DKI Regional Budget which can be used when there are urgent needs, such as health management and disaster management.

The chairman of Commission C DPRD DKI in charge of finance, Habib Muhamad bin Salim Alatas, considers that this nominal is not a large number for handling the virus originating from China. In fact, Habib suggested that the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan increase the amount of the budget issued.

"The Rp. 54 billion budget from BTT should be added again. Apart from the patients who are being treated for suspected corona, other DKI residents need preventive and anticipatory action from the DKI Provincial Government," said Habib when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, March 11.

Meanwhile, Member of Commission C DPRD DKI S Andyka agreed with Habib's statement. Andyka said, although there are diseases that have a more severe impact such as dengue fever, hepatitis and tuberculosis, the corona virus is transmitted more quickly so it requires a large budget. Moreover, the interactive spaces of the people in Jakarta are open.

Therefore, in addition to handling people in monitoring (ODP) corona and patients under surveillance (PDP) or suspect corona, the DKI Provincial Government must pour additional budget for preventive or preventive actions.

"For example, the provision of antiseptic fluids, soap, and so on in thousands of schools, so that students can maintain cleanliness. Then, PD Pasar Jaya needs to increase the stock of masks and hand sanitizers at low prices," said Andyka.

Even though the government has advised that masks be used for sick people, he said, the community also needs preventive measures, such as stocking up masks as an anticipatory measure when they experience symptoms of disease later.

"So, the budget needed is also quite large. I think Rp. 54 billion is still not enough because it also needs preventive efforts," he said.

The plenary meeting of the DKI DPRD (Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI)

The DKI Provincial Government opens the corona virus response post separately from the central government. The Jakarta COVID-19 Response Team handles ODP and PDP related to corona through complaint posts via WhatsApp, as well as telephone numbers 112 and 119.

The DKI Provincial Government has issued a budget of Rp. 54 to support the implementation of health tasks in two hospitals that are used as referral hospitals for ODP and PDP, namely Pasar Minggu and Cengkareng Hospital.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Health Service, Widyastuti, explained that the Rp. 54 billion budget would later be used to buy additional medical devices in handling cases of the corona virus.

"Hospitals that have already been treated by considering the principle of preventing the transfer (transmission) of infection, so special protective equipment is needed," said Widyastuti.

Apart from that, DKI's unexpected costs will also be used to buy disinfectant liquid. This fluid is used as a cleaning tool for hospital and ambulance rooms in the treatment of corona-related patients.

"We know that something or certain areas that have been treated need to be disinfected. So it is necessary to strengthen the means of tools that can be used for disinfection or decontamination," he said.