Sad News From East Kotawaringin, One Doctor Dies Of COVID-19

The funeral prayer was held during the last tribute to the late Dr. Endang Retno Junita, Sp.Rad in the backyard of Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital / Antara

JAKARTA - Grief has again enveloped the extended family of Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan. This follows a doctor named Endang Retno Junita, Sp. Rad who died of COVID-19.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of our health worker, Dr. Endang, who is a radiology specialist, today due to a confirmed case of COVID-19", said the Head of the East Kotawaringin Health Service, Umar Kaderi, in Sampit, reported by Antara, Monday, August 2.

Endang died on Monday morning after being treated for several days at Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital after being confirmed positive for COVID-19. His condition was reported to have improved, but then it got worse, and could not be saved.

Umar said Dr. Endang is a specialist doctor who has high dedication and integrity in carrying out his duties in East Kotawaringin Regency. They feel very lost for the departure of the specialist.

Umar said that so far we have five health workers in this area who died after being exposed to COVID-19. Some died while being treated in the isolation room, some were in the recovery period.

"They are Mr. Harles from the Parenggean I Health Center, Mr. Ishak, the Head of Subdivision of TU at the Bapinang Health Center, Dr. Febby Yudha Herlambang, who at that time served as Director of the Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital, Dr. Naris, who is an ophthalmologist, and today, Dr. Endang", said Umar.

Unaty hopes that this is the last health worker to die due to being confirmed by COVID-19. He hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic in East Kotawaringin Regency can end soon so that the burden on health workers to serve COVID-19 patients will decrease.

The management of Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital, represented by a senior doctor, Dr. Deni Muda Perdana, said that the deceased was one of the best who had served sincerely at the hospital.

"The deceased has served 11 years and is one of the best specialist doctors at Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital. We ask all friends at Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital to forgive all sins and mistakes of the deceased", said Deni.

He also asked for prayers to the public so that all patients, especially those with COVID-19, including several doctors and other health workers who were being treated, could recover soon.

East Kotawaringin Regent Halikinnor also expressed his deep condolences for the death of Dr. Endang. He prayed that the struggle of the deceased and all other health workers would receive the best reward from Allah SWT.

He appealed to the public not to waste the struggle of health workers who are fighters in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. Community support is needed so that this pandemic ends soon.

"Local governments certainly feel very lost. We hope and pray that the health workers who died will be given the best place by His side. Let's continue to fight together to overcome this pandemic", said Halikinnor.

Meanwhile, the last respect was given by the extended family of Dr. Murjani Hospital when releasing the body of Dr. Endang. The body of the COVID-19 fighter was prayed in the backyard of the hospital.

Halikinnor Regent and several other officials participated in the funeral prayer. Furthermore, Dr. Endang's body was buried accompanied by clouds that hung over the sky of Sampit City.