Lack Of COVID Vaccinations, Batam City Government Needs 216 Health Workers To Realize 70 Percent Target At The End Of July

Illustration of a COVID-19 vaccination. (Wikimedia Commons/Annalyn Gallego/Province of Camarines Sur)

BATAM - The Batam City Government, Riau Islands, lacks health workers for COVID-19 vaccinations. In fact, until the end of July 2021, it is targeted that 70 percent of vaccine recipients will be achieved.

"To fulfill service facilities to the lowest level, two doctors are needed per sub-district. So 18 doctors, 54 vaccine interpreters, 72 screening staff, and 72 administrative staff," Batam Deputy Mayor Amsakar Achmad said in Batam, as reported by Antara, Friday, June 25.

Batam City Government is trying to speed up the vaccination process. In addition to the 21 health centers across the main and buffer islands, an immunization program for 1,000 people is implemented every day in the sub-districts (which are divided into two villages) on the main island every day.

The municipal government is also working with communities and institutions to establish vaccine centers in a number of places, including in Temenggung Abdul Jamal in collaboration with the Regional Police, in temples, several mosques, shopping centers and campuses.

For this reason, the Batam City Government needs an additional vaccination team. Total needed 216 people.

He has asked the Provincial Government for assistance to meet this need. Initially, the provincial government approved the addition of 126 people, consisting of 54 vaccination staff and 72 administrative staff and two people who were tasked with screening.

However, then there was an exchange of positions in the Riau Islands Provincial Government, so the Batam City Government's request has not been continued.

"Because there was a shift in structure. Last night they got clarity, they asked for time to communicate with the new provincial government budget team and the new regional secretary," he said. He hopes that the provincial government can immediately fulfill the request of the Batam City Government, in early July.

As for administrative staff, his party gathers volunteers who are willing to help, including teachers who are members of PGRI and a number of students from various universities.

"There is no problem for operators, because special skills are not required," he said.

And for additional doctors, he said the Batam City Government had agreed to carry out recruitment with financing from the Batam Regional Budget.