National Police Chief Asks To Apply Customary Approach, Invites West Papuans To Quarantine In Isoter

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo/DOC Public Relations of the Police

WEST PAPUA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo asked to apply a local wisdom approach or adapt to local customs, in order to invite West Papuans exposed to COVID-19 to undergo quarantine in centralized isolation (Isoter).

This was conveyed by Sigit when chairing a meeting with the Provincial, City/Regency Forkopimda in West Papua regarding the handling and control of COVID-19, together with the TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Saturday, August 28.

Sigit added that this approach must be carried out by TNI personnel, the National Police together with the Regional Government in synergy with all elements of the local community.

"Efforts to shift isoman to isoter need to be carried out optimally with the help of the Regional Government (Pemda), all community leaders, traditional leaders. And need a good explanation by adjusting local customs that can provide peace to the community when they invite to isoter," said Sigit quoted from a written statement from the Police Public Relations.

The National Police Chief explained that the level of self-isolation in West Papua is currently recorded at 411 cases or approximately 82 percent of active cases. Meanwhile, there are 13 isoter locations in West Papua, with a capacity of 855 beds. Of that number, 19 have been used and 836 have not been used.

General Sigit said socialization to the community to undergo isolation in isoters should be further strengthened. According to him, the isoters provided are now equipped with adequate facilities and are fully supervised by health workers (nakes).

That way, continued Sigit, a person's recovery rate from exposure to the coronavirus will be higher. Not only that, by hastening isolation in isoters, it will keep family and other colleagues away from the spread of the coronavirus.

"It is still preferable to isolate or quarantine in Isoter because it is under the supervision of medical personnel," said Sigit.

Not to forget, the National Police Chief also continues to encourage Forkopimda Mimika to carry out a COVID-19 trial strategy, namely strict 3M procedures, strengthening 3T (Tracing, Testing, and Treatment), and accelerating mass vaccination programs.

The National Police Chief also hopes that Forkopimda together with the community will continue to work together to maintain the trend of the spread of the coronavirus. The reason is, of the 34 provinces in Indonesia, West Papua is the region with the fewest active cases on a national scale.

By maintaining a positive trend, Sigit said it will affect concessions to community activities. If the health side of the residents can be guaranteed, continued Sigit, the wheels of the economy will move as usual, but remain disciplined in implementing health protocols.

"When the COVID-19 case is under control, the area will automatically receive easing and the community's economic activities can return to running better. Of course, this is the joint responsibility of the Government, both Central and Regional, and the whole community. In the Minister of Home Affairs number 36 and 37 in 2021, there will be an expansion of easing in the education sector, non-essential sector, restaurants, shopping centers, wedding receptions, public facilities, and cultural arts activities," said Sigit.

Handling and controlling COVID-19 in West Papua, can also be done by accelerating or accelerating vaccines, as targeted by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

In order to accelerate the vaccine, Sigit hopes that TNI soldiers, Polri, Regional Government, and the community will carry out socialization and appeal to the public about the importance of being injected with vaccines. Then, pick up the ball to carry out vaccines in schools, churches, and villages.

"Do outreach to vaccination locations or outlets and vaccination strategies so that people know about vaccination activities that need acceleration. Conduct outreach to traditional leaders, church communities to invite people to carry out vaccinations. Make creative breakthroughs with mobile or door-to-door vaccination strategies, mass vaccination in schools and churches, mass vaccinations at the houses of traditional/village heads, burning stones," said Sigit in his briefing.