"This refusal from residents is owing to a lack of information about the benefits of the Healthy House," Tjutjuk Supariono, a member of Commission D at the Surabaya City Legislative Council (DPRD), stated here on Wednesday.
Supariono fully supports the steps taken by the city government and continues to encourage related parties to continue to raise awareness of the importance of Healthy House among the residents.
The DPRD Commission D member believes that the Healthy House facility can lower the spread of COVID-19, especially family clusters. However, some residents rejected it over fears of being infected.
To this end, Supariono called for continually intensifying the dissemination of information on the Healthy House program to enable people to gain an understanding of the facility.
Speaking in connection with the selection of the location, Supariono informed that the Surabaya city government had earlier conducted a feasibility study of a place for residents to self-isolate.
According to Supariono, apart from it being a place to self-isolate, the city government also offers complete facilities and infrastructure for residents, such as oxygen cylinders and ambulances, for patients in need.
Related news: Bed occupancy rate fell in Surabaya hospitals: Mayor
The Surabaya city government took the step to build healthy houses on account of several cases of patients dying while self-isolating at home. Generally, those patients and their families have minimal access to treatment and competent supervision.
Homes that are not suitable for self-isolation could also potentially put family members at risk.
Due to a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, patients are compelled to self-isolate at home, as the hospital bed occupancy rate (BOR) in Surabaya is still above 90 percent.
Supariono noted that it had been almost a month that no units were left in the ICU and without negative-pressure ventilation.
"This Healthy House facility is expected to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and BOR in Surabaya," he stated.
Mayor of Surabaya Eri Cahyadi stated that healthy houses were built at the community unit (RW) level. However, due to the limited space and number of task force, it was formed at the village (kelurahan) level by utilizing public facilities as a location for self-isolation.
"This Healthy House program is a form of the Surabaya city government's efforts to stop the transmission of COVID-19, especially to prevent an increase in family clusters," Cahyadi remarked. Related news: Surabaya legislator lauds school conversion plan for self-isolation
Related news: Surabaya's Lapangan Tembak Hospital readies 100 oxygen concentrators
Translator: Abdul Hakim, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
