We want nurses who stay at the forefront (of the battle against COVID-19) to serve not only as vaccinators but also as hospital servants. So, we provide them with various facilities and training courses
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has offered its deepest condolences over the death of 711 Indonesian healthcare workers due to COVID-19 in the past two years.



"In the past couple of years the number of healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 was 9,423," secretary general of the Health Ministry, Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha, said during a webinar held to mark the 48th National Nurse Day here on Thursday.



The government remains committed to protecting Indonesian nurses and promoting their welfare, he added.


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"We want nurses who stay at the forefront (of the battle against COVID-19) to serve not only as vaccinators but also as hospital servants. So, we provide them with various facilities and training courses," he said.



The facilities include lodgings to conduct self-isolation, transportation, and incentives.



In addition, the government is also committed to providing them with scholarships to pursue higher education in order to improve their competency in serving the public, he said.

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"We offer scholarships to nurses employed in remote areas. They are prioritized to receive the scholarships in order to pursue higher education. This is one of the six pillars. The fifth pillar concerns human resource development, including improving their quality, increasing their number, and distributing them to all parts of Indonesia," he added.



Speaking at the commemoration of National Nurse Day, President Joko Widodo expressed his gratitude to all nurses in the country for their dedication and hard work, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.



"I also extend my deep condolences over the death of 711 nurses who performed noble duties to help sick people," he said.



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Translator: Andi Firdau, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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