Hundreds of ODGJ Receive COVID-19 Vaccination from the "Phala Martha" Disability Center

SUKABUMI (May 25, 2021) - The "Phala Martha" Disability Center in Sukabumi as the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the Ministry of Social Affairs carried out COVID-19 vaccination for people with mental disabilities who are also recipients of Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) services.

Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities, Eva Rahmi Kasim, at the opening of the activity said that vaccination is an effort to prevent COVID-19 in the Center environment.

"Prevention of COVID-19 in this Center environment is a collaboration between the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health which is followed up by the Sukabumi District Health Service which aims to increase immunity, especially for People with Mental Disorders (ODGJ)," said Eva.

"ODGJ who are at the Phala Martha Disability Center come from various regions in Indonesia. Before implementing today's vaccine, the center has carried out outreach, health checks and approaches to them," he added.

Head of the Sukabumi Regency Health Office, Harun Al Rasyid, said that out of the 2,525,878 population, there were 3,536 ODGJ.

"So, there are 0.14% of the population who are ODGJ. The target number of vaccine recipients in Sukabumi Regency is 1,674,000 with an age range of 18-59 years," explained Harun.

For your information, mental specialist doctors in the Sukabumi Regency area are available at Sekarwangi Hospital and Pelabuhan Ratu Hospital. The local Health Office provides support to ODGJ by providing medication, training mental health workers and visiting ODGJ's homes.

"We also hope that all the Center officers and employees here have received vaccinations because we must carry out all efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Sukabumi area," said Harun.

Efforts are being made at the center to increase immunity and health during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Social Rehabilitation Assistant (ATENSI) program for Persons with Disabilities. Head of the Phala Martha Disability Center, Cup Santo, explained that efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the center's environment include, among other things, adopting a Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS).

"We implement PHBS in the daily lives of the beneficiaries by implementing health protocols, namely facilitating the use of masks, washing hands, maintaining distance and avoiding crowds so that to date no beneficiaries have tested positive for COVID-19," said Cup Santo.

The results of health examinations at the verification stage for potential vaccine recipients showed that 26 people were unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for health reasons, including because they suffered from shortness of breath, high blood pressure, tremors and difficulty communicating.

This activity was also attended by the Director for the Management and Prevention of Mental and Drug Problems at the Ministry of Health, the Head of the Sukabumi Regency Health Office and the Head of Cibadak Subdistrict.