Ministry of Social Affairs Fulfills Needs of Medical Equipment for Neglected Residents in TPS Due to COVID-19

JAKARTA (May 1st, 2020) – After the coordination meeting on the provision of Temporary Shelters (TPS) for neglected residents, street children, homeless people, beggars, and other Beneficiaries (PM) affected by COVID-19 (29/4), the Director General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat, quickly responded the fulfillment of medical equipment in several TPS that are already operating.

The Director General of Social Rehabilitation handed over medical equipment to relevant officials, to the Head of the Central Jakarta Social Service, Ngapuli Paranginangin, at TPS Karet Tengsin Sports Center and the Head of the East Jakarta Social Service, Purnowo, at Ciracas Sports Center.

Furthermore, the Director General of Social Rehabilitation also handed over medical equipment to the Vice Mayor of North Jakarta, Ali Maulana Hakim, at Tanjung Priok Sports Center, the Head of the West Jakarta Social Service, Mursidin, at Cengkareng Sports Center, and the Head of Pasar Minggu Sub-District, Arief Wibowo, at Pasar Minggu Sports Center.

The Sports Center that has been prepared by the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta is equipped with bed facilities, cleaning facilities, and a public kitchen, which are managed by their respective officers. “We come to all areas of DKI Jakarta to ensure TPS for residents who are neglected due to COVID-19. In addition, we also provide medical equipment,” said the Director General of Social Rehabilitation.

Every TPS is provided 6 gallons of 5-liter disinfectant, 1 unit of disinfectant spray, 500 bottles of 250 ml hand soap, 40 boxes (2,000 pieces) of masks, 500 bottles of 500 ml hand sanitizer, 50 bottles of 60 ml hand sanitizer, and 50 boxes (2,500 pairs) of gloves. “All of these are personal protective equipment, especially for officers. The PMs will also be given medical equipment such as masks,” said the Director General of Social Rehabilitation.

The provision of TPS is an instruction from the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara, to accommodate residents affected by COVID-19 who have slipped away from social assistance. This is an effort by the Ministry of Social Affairs to pay special attention to vulnerable groups in order to survive.

The TPS is prepared for poor and vulnerable residents such as homeless people, people who have lost their jobs, are helpless in facing life difficulties (persons with disabilities), and people who are hopeless and stressed out. “This TPS is not a kind of nursing home that can accommodate for a long time. this is a transit area. Later, the PMs will be provided with education on the prevention of COVID-19 and medical equipment support,” explained the Director General of Social Rehabilitation.

Besides Sports Center, the Ministry of Social Affairs has also prepared several centers to be made into TPS. These centers are Jakarta “Mulyajaya” Center, Jakarta “Handayani” Children’s Center, Jakarta “Bambu Apus” Drug Center, Bekasi “Budhi Dharma” Elderly Center, Bekasi “Tan Miyat” Blind Center, and Bekasi “Pangudi Luhur” Ex-Homeless and Beggar Center.

As of May 1st, 2020, around 318 PMs had been recorded at 5 TPS, which are 72 PMs at the Karet Tengsin Sports Hall in Central Jakarta, 178 PMs at the Ciracas Sports Center in East Jakarta, 6 PMs at the Tanjung Priok Sports Center in North Jakarta, 33 PMs at the Cengkareng Sports Center in West Jakarta, and 35 PMs at the Pasar Minggu Sports Center in South Jakarta.

From 318 PMs, 101 PMs have been returned to their families, 27 PMs have been referred to several locations; 7 PMs were referred to the Bekasi “Pangudi Luhur” Ex-Homeless and Beggar Center, 17 PMs were referred to the Jakarta “Mulyajaya” Center, 2 PMs were referred to PSBI, and 1 PM was referred to Mental Hospital (RSJ). The remaining 136 PMs are still in service at 5 TPS.

The Ministry of Social Affairs not only provides health service, but will also provide psychosocial service at each TPS in the form of social distancing and physical distancing education, psychological social therapy, sports, arts, and mental spirituality.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also mobilized all facilitators in 5 social rehabilitation clusters. “We also mobilize all facilitators to be able to strengthen each other and ensure the treatment according to standard procedures,” concluded the Director General of Social Rehabilitation in front of the media crew.

The Head of the Balarenik Social Welfare Institution (LKS), Agusman, suggested taking a community approach, which is direct outreach to their location/community. PM is not immediately taken to TPS but is given understanding, education, and warnings of they still have families so they can return home. This is to prevent over-handling at TPS.

The local government is also ready to utilize other sports centers if needed. This additional sports center can be used as a special TPS for self-isolation.

The handover of medical equipment was attended by the Director of Social Rehabilitation for the Elderly, Andi Hanindito, the Executive Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities, Sumiatun, the Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Social Deviance and Human Trafficking Victims, Waskito Budi Kusumo, the Representative of the Directorate of Children Social Rehabilitation, Meerada Sariati, the Head of General Division, Herman Koswara, and the Head of Program and Reporting Division, Aty Setiawati.

In addition, there were also partners from the Ministry of Social Affairs, both from the Government and from Institutions, namely the Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Social Service, Irmansyah and staff, the Head of the Balarenik Social Welfare Institution (LKS), Agusman, and representatives of the Diakoneia Modern Campus Foundation (KDM) who focus on services to street children and marginalized children.