
ACTNews, JAKARTA – The healthcare workers around the world are struggling to
deal with COVID-19 outbreak. Until Saturday (3/21) afternoon, 450 confirmed cases
have been reported in Indonesia, seeing an increase of 81 cases. As many as 38
people died from COVID-19.
Healthcare
workers have been increasingly overwhelmed. However, they continue to strive to
treat and cure COVID-19 patients despite limitations. Many even appealed to the
community for support. According to Dr. Mohammad Riedha Bambang, ACT’s Corona
Crisis Center Coordinator, his fellow physicians are now working harder than
usual.
"The medical
facilities seem to have passed their threshold. After they (healthcare workers)
saw ACT provided assistance to the Cilandak Marine Hospital, South Jakarta,
many then asked if there was any more assistance like this for them," said
Riedha.
The threshold Dr. Riedha meant is the hospitals’ limit in providing services. Many factors can determine the threshold of these hospitals. "Each hospital has its threshold. This limit can be seen from the capacity of the beds, isolation rooms, human resources, funds, etc.," he explained.
Symbolic
handover of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) aid to the Marine Hospital,
Cilandak, South Jakarta. (ACTNews)
The rapid spread
of COVID-19 also affects the threshold of many hospitals. Many have been
overburdened due to the the heavy task of dealing with a virus that emerged in
early March in Indonesia.
"They lack Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE), and also human resources because many medical
workers have been sent home as they were placed under observation (ODP). There
is also no facilitation from the government for health workers to be examined
or screened to find out if they are infected with the Coronavirus. There are
also other factors that cause overburden of medical facilities," explained
Doctor Riedha.
ACT continues to
assist health workers in their fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition
to providing food through the Free Food Operation, ACT also provides PPE to
hospitals in need.
"We have
distributed PPE on Friday (3/20) at the Marine Hospital. The PPE that we
provided included masks, nurse caps, antiseptic liquids, latex gloves and
liquid soap," said Riedha.
The assistance
was received immediately, and the hospital management thanked ACT because, to
them, this assistance is like drops of water that quench barren desert. The
hospital also hoped that this assistance can continue in the future, as is also
hoped by Dr. Riedha
"We hope
that this assistance can continue at the Cilandak Marine Hospital and other
hospitals. Of course, this aid program cannot continue without the support of
all benefactors," said Riedha. []