We also encourage Papuan religious and customary leaders to be involved to raise public awareness on the importance of vaccination.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Presidential Office (KSP) lauded the Papuan Health Office's initiative to engage the youth in strengthening the region's handling of COVID-19.

The statement was delivered by Rini S. Modouw, a KSP expert staff, after reviewing efforts in several areas in Jayapura City, Papua, as quoted from the office’s written statement here on Friday.

The Anti-COVID-19 Youth movement, comprising youth and members of religious communities, has actively assisted the local government in conducting disinfectant spraying at resident’s houses, disseminating information on health protocols, and conducting environmental hygiene campaigns, Modouw explained.

The movement has, in fact, been facilitated by village offices in each region since 2020. However, the limited operational funding has posed a hindrance in maintaining the activities, she pointed out.

Hence, the expert staff remarked that the KSP will find a solution to the issue to support sustainability of the movement, as transmission rate in the area was still quite high.

Moreover, the number of COVID-19 PCR test kits and vaccinators are limited. The community’s compliance to health protocols is also very low, she remarked.

Modouw cited as an example the Abepura community health center in Jayapura City where the vaccination program had been stalled for a month since most of the health workers had contracted the virus.

"We will increase the number of vaccinators to get all Papuan people vaccinated before the National Sports Week starts. We also encourage Papuan religious and customary leaders to be involved to raise public awareness on the importance of vaccination," Modouw remarked.

Speaking in connection with the vaccination program, Head of the Abepura community health center, Dr Grace Juliet Pangendahen, drew attention to the quite high level of public enthusiasm for the vaccination program.

Furthermore, collaboration between the National Police, Indonesian National Defense Forces, hospital, and local government to provide vaccination centers and tracing programs of COVID-19 patients had considerably lowered the number of COVID-19 cases in the city, she noted.

Furthermore, Head of the Jayapura City Health Office, Ni Nyoman Sri Antari, stated that currently, the local bed occupancy rates had dropped to 59 percent, from 96 percent in July. Moreover, an additional isolation center is operating on the MV Tidar.


Translator: Rangga Jingga, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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