Assisting the Front Line in Handling COVID-19, Ministry of Social Affairs Donates PPE

JAKARTA (April 14th 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of masks and handsanitizers to medical personnel at three referral hospitals for handling Covid-19 patients in DKI Jakarta, namely Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), RSPI Sulianti Suroso, and Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital.

The assistance was handed over directly by the Ministry of Social Affairs' Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) Advisor, Grace Batubara to representatives of each hospital.

"For now, as we all know, the conditions for masks on the market are very difficult," said Grace when handing over PPE assistance in Jakarta, Tuesday (14/4).

For this reason, Grace sees the need to supply medical equipment for medical personnel, who daily struggle with positive COVID-19 patients in the hospital and have great potential for exposure, through PPE assistance.

"Incidentally the Ministry of Social Affairs got several masks, and that's what we took, we set aside from the DWP Ministry of Social Affairs, as well as the Era Solidarity Action Organization (OASE) of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet (KIM). We obtained approximately 12 thousand", explained the wife of the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara.

The masks provided were 4,000 pcs and 100 bottles of 60 ml handsanitizer for each hospital, so that the total masks disbursed by the Ministry of Social Affairs were 12,000 pcs and 300 bottles of 60 ml handsanitizers. Apart from PPE, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided 25 boxes of biscuits.

"That's what at this time, at this stage, we first give it to the three hospitals, which we think is the most needed", he said.

Grace said that the Ministry of Social Affairs did not rule out the distribution of PPE needs to other hospitals. "If for example the Ministry of Social Affairs will get more masks and handsanitizers in the future, we will definitely give them to other hospitals," he explained.

Response from the Hospital

Representatives from the three hospitals responded well to the PPE assistance they received from the Ministry of Social Affairs, one of which was Suaif. This representative of aid recipients from RSPI Sulianti Suroso said that the PPE assistance would be useful for medical personnel in the hospital.

"Hopefully, this PPE will be useful for medical personnel in the hospital," said Suaif in a trembling voice.

He also admitted that he would distribute PPE assistance evenly to 750 medical personnel in his hospital. "We are trying to make all the officers evenly distributed because of this assistance to avoid the transmission of the disease, yes, as a result of dealing directly with Covid-19 positive patients," he admitted.

Meanwhile, RSCM, which is the barometer of other hospitals, also received PPE assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Ende Zaelani, as the representative of RSCM, revealed the importance of RSCM as a benchmark.

"So, because all the centers are in us, we become a barometer, so all forces in the RSCM will try to do their best," said the man who is in charge of the administration in charge of security and order of the RSCM.

Medical personnel, he continued, are required to continue to use complete PPE. While expressing his gratitude, his party also slipped a recommendation that all parties contribute to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

"Of course, we are doing our best together because this is not an ordinary thing, this is an extraordinary thing. Of course, we, the strength of all units, all elements, all ministries are also of course yes, that's all out," he ordered.

Meanwhile, the Kemayoran athlete homestead, which was suddenly transformed into an emergency hospital for handling COVID-19, is also on the list of recipients of PPE assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

PPE recipient, Second Lieutenant of the Navy (K) Tommy Antariksa, thanked the Ministry of Social Affairs for caring about the need for medical personnel at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital.

"I, as the coordinator of general practitioners at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital, would like to thank the Minister of Social Affairs for the attention to us, the front guard at Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital," he said haltingly.

This form of attention, he said, would be very useful in supporting the high intensity of their work dealing with COVID-19 patients. "Because this assistance really supports us in the field, who need PPE on a daily basis", he concluded.