Government Task Force That Continues To Meet The Needs Of Medical Personnel Against COVID-19

Chairperson of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, Doni Monardo (screenshot of the BNPB presscon)

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, Doni Monardo, reported the results of the government's performance over the past month. He explained that the government has distributed hundreds of thousands of personal protective equipment (PPE) to medical personnel who treat COVID-19 patients.

"Completing health safety equipment for doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to the maximum extent to be protected from the dangers of COVID-19 by distributing 725 thousand PPE, 13 million surgical masks, 150 thousand N95 masks," Doni said in a press conference broadcast on his account. BNPB's YouTube, Tuesday, April 14.

He understands that the need for the availability of health safety equipment for doctors and medical nurses has not been fulfilled optimally. Given the growing number of positive patient cases of COVID-19.

In order to meet the need for protective equipment, the government is pushing the production of PPE by using local components that are certified by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, Doni said that he had collaborated with a number of researchers and business actors to help make the production of PPE to deal with COVID-19 patients.

"The team of task force experts assisted by researchers, researchers from various institutions, universities and the business world are trying to produce PPE using local and WHO certified components and can also produce ventilators in the future," explained Doni.

Furthermore, said Doni, the Covid-19 Task Force together with related stakeholders are also working to improve laboratory capabilities. From the beginning, it was recorded that there were only three units, now there are almost 52 laboratory units scattered throughout Indonesia.

"We hope that there are 78 laboratory units that are spread out and can operate well throughout the country, including having distributed 800 thousand rapid tests to all provinces in Indonesia," said the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

With regard to hospitals for treating patients with COVID-19 cases, Doni said that there are already hundreds of hospitals provided, including government-owned hospitals, TNI, Polri, Ministry of BUMN and private hospitals.

"Currently, 635 referral hospitals are ready with a capacity of 1,515 isolation rooms for severe and critical patients," he said.

In addition, Wisma Atlet Kemayoran has also been converted into an emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate conditions. There is also an Emergency Hospital located on Galang Island and an observation location at the Raden Sadjad Hanggar Lanud, in the Natuna Islands, which are ready to be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

"So that hospitals only prioritize severe and critical patients, while mild patients can be treated at home by being treated according to the doctor's instructions," he said.

Furthermore, in order to stop the spread of COVID-19, Doni said that his party would continue to regulate and meet the needs needed by medical officers as well as conduct education, socialization and mitigation.

Infographic Update on the acceleration of the handling of COVID-19 in Indonesia as of April 14, 2020 at 12.00 WIB. # BersatuLawanCovid19 pic.twitter.com/7S47niPMYY

- BNPB Indonesia (@BNPB_Indonesia) April 14, 2020

His party will continue to urge the public to comply with the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) which are currently being implemented in a number of areas. Thus, vulnerable groups such as elderly people with congenital diseases such as hypertension, sugar, asthma, and other diseases will not be exposed to COVID-19.

On the other hand, the government will provide compensation for medical personnel who died while on duty handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of this donation is not comparable to the sacrifice of medical personnel who have struggled as the front line of Indonesian health.

"Providing compensation to medical officers who have died and died. Doctors amount to Rp. 250 million, nurses Rp. 50 million and other medical personnel Rp. 100 million," he concluded.