Special Ways Are Needed To Handle COVID-19 In Villages, Puan Maharani: The Government Must Be Flexible

Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani (IST)

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, highlighted the spike in the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in rural areas. According to him, the government needs to take special ways to deal with the corona virus outbreak in the countryside. "With access to information that is not as good as in cities, rural communities need to be given more socialization about the dangers of COVID-19, along with prevention and control," said Puan in Jakarta. , Wednesday, August 4. The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture regrets that there are still many reports about health protocols that have not been optimally implemented in villages. Including the burial protocol for villagers who died due to COVID-19. "The supply of information about the dangers and ways to deal with COVID-19 must be evenly distributed between rural and urban communities, because this virus infects regardless of region," said Puan. village community leaders to disseminate information about the dangers and ways of dealing with COVID-19. In addition to the health approach, a religious and cultural approach also needs to be carried out by village community leaders if it is considered effective. that.

Puan said that high community solidarity in rural areas is actually an important capital to fight COVID-19. However, he said, this solidarity must be accompanied by good information and understanding about this endemic disease.

“High solidarity is important, but a good understanding of this disease is equally important. If these two things go well, people in both cities and villages will be more effective against COVID-19," he explained.

Puan also reminded the government that health services and vaccinations should also reach people in villages, including underdeveloped villages outside Java. The government, he added, must be flexible in the procedure for providing vaccinations to rural communities.

“All Indonesian citizens have the right to be vaccinated. So for matters related to administration, especially for indigenous peoples, the government should be as flexible as possible,” said Puan.