Crisis For Cremation of COVID-19 Body in Jakarta
This problem was revealed from a chain message delivered by a resident of West Jakarta who claimed to be named Martin.
On Monday, July 12, Martin said his mother had died positive for COVID-19. He was offered assistance from a person who claimed to be an official from the Cemetery Service (Public Parks and Forest Service) to cremate him at a cost of Rp48 million.
Martin was surprised. Because, 6 weeks ago his brother died and was cremated at a cost of less than Rp10 million. Then, 2 weeks later his relative died and was cremated at a cost of Rp24 million. "How did the price skyrocket to this high in such a short time?" Martin wrote in his confession.
Martin is looking for another cremation service. There is a crematorium on the outskirts of the city with a price of Rp65 million. Seeing this condition, Martin asked the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswesan to solve the fraud committed by the crematorium provider.
"If by chance, Mr. Anies also reads my story, as a resident of DKI, I would like to convey a request that you, as the Governor of DKI, should take firm action immediately if any funeral apparatus changes its function to brokers looking for profit. They work closely with mortuaries at the hospital and crematorium staff. who has the right to regulate slots," he said.
The DKI Provincial Government responded to this news. Head of the DKI City Parks and Forest Service, Suzi Marsitawati, claimed that none of her officers had delivered cremated bodies outside Jakarta.
"The bodies cremated in Karawang were brought by the family themselves. Our officers only informed that the crematoriums in Jakarta do not accept cremations of COVID-19 bodies and those that can accept are crematoriums outside Jakarta," said Suzi in a statement, Sunday, July 18.
To prevent brokers and subsequent victims of cremation, Suzi appealed to the Cremation Foundation to write to the hospital regarding the cremation scheduling and the fees. Thus, there is no bargaining in the field by irresponsible parties or individuals who harm the community.
"We also recommend that residents not contact brokers for hearse services and grave plots, because the hospital has automatically contacted the DKI Jakarta Distamhut. If a resident dies at home, immediately contact the RT/RW and sub-district health center,” said Suzi.
"Looking at the current high level of funeral services in Jakarta, the Black Cross officers do not serve the delivery of bodies to private cremation locations outside Jakarta. People who want to cremate their family members can do it independently and ensure that the costs go directly to private cremation locations, not private cremation locations. through the person," he continued.
また読む:
Anies must find a solution
Jakarta DPRD Commission A member August Hamonangan asked Anies to provide COVID-19 crematorium facilities in Jakarta to determine the upper limit of the cremation fee so as not to add to the burden of mourning the bereaved family. This needs to be done because of the spike in the cost of COVID-19 cremation up to 3-4 times the normal price.
"It is necessary to understand that Jakarta residents come from various religious and cultural backgrounds, which of course cannot all be buried in the TPU, so there needs to be alternatives and solutions from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government," said August.
August assessed that the DKI Provincial Government should be able to build an additional crematorium using the remaining unexpected expenditure budget (BTT) of Rp186 billion last month.
“The use of BTT funds will obviously help families who need cremation services. Don't let anyone feel ignored in an emergency like now," he said.