Ganjar Gives Advice To President Jokowi About The Distribution Of Free Medicines: Give It To The Village Head

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Governor of Central Java (Central Java) Ganjar Pranowo gave advice to the central government regarding the distribution of free drug and vitamin packages. Ganjar said, it is better for the distribution of the drug to be handed over to the village head.

"My input to the central (government) is when there is a vitamin to be distributed, when there is rice to be distributed, just give it to the village heads. That's okay," said Ganjar in a virtual discussion, Saturday, July 24.

President Jokowi has instructed the distribution of aid to be coordinated by the TNI Commander. The TNI commander ordered his staff to distribute.

However, Ganjar said, Babinsa and Bhabinkamtibmas officers in each region could play a role in assisting village heads.

"Babinsa Bhabinkamtibmas just help. I'll give you an open note, because the TNI-Polri actually support BKO, but not on the main function of that matter," said Ganjar.

In addition, Ganjar claimed to have emphasized to the district/city governments to establish call centers to villages. According to him, it is important in helping the community.

The call center, said Ganjar, can be used by people who want to conduct consultations to request medical services.

"Villages usually have WA groups, they can communicate directly, but call centers are important because today people ask for food, today people ask for beds in hospitals, today they need oxygen, today they need vaccines," he said.

For information, President Jokowi has started distributing free medicine and vitamin packages for COVID-19 self-isolation (isoman) patients in Java and Bali since July 15.

Of the 300 thousand packages of drugs and vitamins distributed, the government divided them into three packages, namely package 1 containing vitamins for residents with positive asymptomatic PCR (polymerase chain reaction) results or OTG.

Package 2 contains vitamins and medicine for residents with positive PCR with complaints of fever and loss of smell. The last 3 packages contain vitamins and medicine for residents with positive PCR with complaints of fever and dry cough.

TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto explained that initially the puskesmas or village midwives recorded data on self-isolated patients in their respective regions. This is because the initial recording of positive cases of COVID-19 based on the results of the RT PCR swab examination was at the puskesmas level.

"The distribution will be adjusted to the data held by the puskesmas, with the requirements that have been determined by the puskesmas, including the results of the swab and indeed the community must carry out isoman," Hadi said at the Merdeka Palace, Thursday, July 15.

Then, if there are isoman patients who have not been registered at the puskesmas, Hadi appealed to the local RT and RW to report to the puskesmas or village midwife, accompanied by the results of the RT PCR.

"If you really want to get the drug, please directly convey it to the village midwife, then the puskesmas officers," said Hadi.

After being recorded, the puskesmas officers will perform triage, classifying which isoman patients experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms, to no symptoms.