KSP’s visit aimed at reviewing the condition on the field and listening to residents’ aspirations directlyJakarta (ANTARA) - The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) has lauded religious groups in the community for playing an active role and taking part in handling the COVID-19 pandemic in Yogyakarta.
The KSP said that their active role was directly monitored by its monitoring and evaluation team which held face-to-face meetings and discussions with all interfaith figures in Yogyakarta on Sunday (September 5, 2021).
“KSP’s visit aimed at reviewing the condition on the field and listening to residents’ aspirations directly,” KSP’s main expert staff, Joanes Joko, said in a press statement here on Tuesday.
The vaccination coverage in Yogyakarta has shown a fairly good achievement, according to Joko.
As of September 6, 2021, vaccination coverage has reached 62 percent, the local health service reported. Thus, the province has ranked fourth best nationally in terms of vaccination speed, it said.
Religious groups in Yogyakarta have played an important role in this achievement by getting involved in mass vaccination service procurement for their congregations as well as campaigning the importance of staying disciplined in following health protocols, Joko said.
However, this does not mean Yogyakarta has not faced any obstacles in handling COVID-19, he added.
Related news: Yogyakarta plans to launch mobile vaccination drive
According to Yogyakarta’s Public Health Service head, Endang Sri Rahayu, 34 percent of residents, mostly millennials, consider themselves as not prone to COVID-19.
“This is a special characteristic in handling COVID-19 in Yogyakarta, so we need to pay attention to the involvement of the millennial group,” Rahayu stressed.
Another challenge to vaccination acceleration is the stalled vaccine distribution process, which has led to the accumulation of vaccine stocks, and vaccines not being quickly administered to the public, she added.
The government through KSP as well as ministries and institutions will continue to bolster COVID-19 handling in Yogyakarta, Joko said, adding that efforts made for strengthening the system in the downstream require upstream support.
“There are only two formulas in the upstream: staying disciplined in wearing masks and being ready to get vaccinated. COVID-19 must be mitigated, so we can take precautionary measures of potential surge akin to June-July, 2021,” he said.
Related news: Yogyakarta sees daily COVID cases dip below 100
Translator: Rangga Pandu, Juwita Trisna R
Editor: Suharto
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