Ministry of Social Affairs Quick Response Five Persons with Disabilities Affected by Pandemic
Writer :
Humas Balai Melati Jakarta
Translator :
Karlina Irsalyana
JAKARTA (August 16, 2021) – The Ministry of Social
Affairs through Social Rehabilitation Center "Melati" Jakarta
responded quickly to information from the public regarding 5 (five) people with
disabilities who were experiencing a crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the
West Jakarta area. Two people live in Kalideres Village and three others live
in Kapuk Village, West Jakarta.
Head of the Jakarta
"Melati" Center, Romal Uli Jaya Sinaga, assigned 2 social workers,
Heryana and Namin Sunarto, to respond to cases and assess the needs of 5 people
with disabilities.
The team from the Center
previously coordinated with assistants for the disabilities in the Tangerang
City area to check the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) and coordinated
with local officials to facilitate access to permits in the implementation of
case responses.
The team visited the
residence of Adelia Siti Salmah and Ahmad Sobari in Kapuk Village, West
Jakarta. Both are siblings with disabilities.
Adelia (9 years) suffers
from hydrocephalus, a disease that causes excess fluid to press on the brain
and can cause brain damage. This results in the enlargement of Adelia's head.
Meanwhile, his older brother, Ahmad Sobari, is a hearing-speech sensory
disability. Both of them have been handicapped since birth.
Adelia and Ahmad's families
live in difficult conditions, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their
father earns money as a catfish courier which is distributed to pecel catfish traders. Meanwhile, her
mother was selling cakes, but now she has stopped because she no longer has business
capital. They live in a small rented house in a densely populated residential
area.
“Adel is planning to undergo the third stage of
surgery. Thank God the costs are borne by BPJS. But, the drugs have to be
bought. That's what makes me dizzy, sir. It's hard to eat every day, especially
to buy expensive drugs. I entrust that maybe you can help me with my family's
difficulties,” said Adelia's father when she told her family's condition.
From the residence of Adelia and Ahmad, the team moved
to the residence of Andini Radiah, a person with multiple disabilities
(physical and mental) who also lives in the Kapuk Village area, West Jakarta.
Andini and her family live on land that was formerly used as a public cemetery
and is state-owned land.
The house, which was built very simply from wood and
in the form of a house on stilts, faces a complicated problem. Currently, the
land used by Andini's family to build a house has been used as a water
catchment area by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government so that the Andini
family's house is above a water catchment area. Andini's parents were aware of
this problem but could not do much about it.
"I surrender, sir, if I have to be moved. After
all, this is state land. But, please help us because our lives are already
difficult,” said Andini's father, who works as a laborer.
The next residence that the team visited was the house
of Putri Adelia and Azaki Abizhar in Kalideres Village, West Jakarta. Princess
Adelia suffers from Cerebral Palsy or commonly called cerebral palsy. This
disease is caused by abnormal brain development, generally occurs before the
child is born. Symptoms include exaggerated reflexes, limp or stiff limbs, and
involuntary movements.
Putri and her family live in a small rented house with
a rental fee of 700 thousand rupiahs per month. Her parents conveyed the need
for their child to be able to get wheelchair assistance and ease the cost of
therapy for Putri.
The last disabled person the team met was Azakia
Abizhar (10 years old). Azakia has had a physical disability since birth. He
spends most of his time at home with his mother. Even though he really wanted
to go to school like his other friends.
“My child likes to ask for school. But I can't bear to
see him being teased by his friends because of his disability. Some say they
are told to go to SLB (Special School), but the cost to go to school is not
bad," said Azakia's mother.
The team then reported the results of the assessment
of the needs of 5 people with disabilities to the Head of the Jakarta
"Melati" Center. The leadership provides further directions to
coordinate with the West Jakarta Social Service Sub-dept in the process of
submitting the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) and providing assistance
to persons with disabilities in the West Jakarta area.
"Melati" Center Jakarta will also provide
assistance for Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) to reduce the crisis
faced and maximize the potential of families for better welfare for people
with disabilities.
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