Ministry of Social Affairs Ready to Send Social Worker Volunteers to Handle the Social Impact of COVID-19

JAKARTA (April 21st 2020) - In the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to deploy volunteer social workers (peksos) to provide psychosocial support through online assistance. This support will be provided to medical personnel, frontline responders and groups vulnerable to COVID-19

These social workers volunteers have undergone Technical Guidance (Bimtek) based on professional social services practice in the context of the impact of the spread of COVID-19 before being deployed to the field. The activity was initiated by the Bandung Social Welfare Polytechnic (Poltekesos) Community Development Center in collaboration with the Pujiyono Center.

In the context of social rehabilitation, vulnerable groups need psychosocial support in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. These vulnerable groups are Children, Persons with Disabilities, Victims of Drug Abuse, Elderly and Social Disabilities and Human Trafficking Victims.

This vulnerable group needs access to information in accordance with the needs of each group. Starting from information about COVID-19, its spread and how to prevent it through Clean and Healthy Living Behaviors (PHBS).

Psychosocial interventions that can be provided by social worker volunteers are encouragement so that vulnerable groups want to share their worries, invite them to support one another if a family is exposed to COVID-19, and invite them to take up a hobby in filling activities at home.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara, gave his appreciation to the social worker volunteers. "We, from the Ministry of Social Affairs, really appreciate the willingness of our friends to be social worker volunteers. COVID-19 is a disaster for all of us. Not only health disasters, but also social disasters,” said the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Minister of Social Affairs also gave direction that handling this disaster needs special capital. “Indonesia is famous for its mutual cooperation. This could be an asset in dealing with COVID-19. Work will be easy if you work together. So let's tackle this disaster with mutual cooperation," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

Social Workers are the Ministry of Social Affairs' fleet in charge of restoring social functioning for people who need social services. In the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are psychosocially affected, such as medical workers handling COVID-19 and their families, vulnerable groups and their families, and families of COVID-19 victims.

At the end of the meeting through this Video Conference, the Minister of Social Affairs said that all social community volunteers must maintain health and cleanliness. "Friends have to keep each other healthy and clean. Must be disciplined in applying physical distancing," concluded the Minister of Social Affairs.

The video conference was attended by 330 participants consisting of Echelon I and II Officials of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Pujiono Center, Chairperson of the West Java Disaster Alert Post, Coordinator of Bandung Bangkit Bersama, the Indonesian Professional Social Workers Association (IPSPI) and Social Worker volunteers.