160 COVID-19 Health Volunteers Invited for City Tour in Jakarta

Total 160 health volunteers on duty at one of COVID-19 Emergency Hospitals, Haji Pondok Gede Hospital, East Jakarta enjoyed city tour to several tourist destinations in Jakarta this Wednesday (9/29).

Health volunteers' role in this emergency hospital is also very important in overcoming COVID-19

On this trip, they took Transjakarta bus which released by Health Ministry's Directorate General Secretary, Azhar Jaya at Haji Pondok Gede Hospital. This event was attended by Jakarta Health Agency's Health Service Division Head, Wening Tyas and other related officials.

Health Ministry's Directorate General Secretary, Azhar Jaya thanked Jakarta Government for facilitating 160 health volunteers in city tour. After enjoying the trip, they will return to their respective areas with transportation facilities provided by Jakarta Government.

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"We express our gratitude and appreciation to Jakarta Governor, Anies Baswedan, who has facilitated 160 health volunteers at Haji Pondok Gede Hospital to return to their respective regions. Before going home, they are also given opportunity to go on a city tour," he conveyed.

Not only that, he continued, government will also provide incentives with different amounts according to their respective duties and professions. There are also certificates of appreciation, as well as gifts from Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Disparekraf).

Jakarta Health Agency's Health Service Division Head, Wening Tyas added, Haji Pondok Gede Dormitory which was previously designated as COVID-19 Emergency Hospital also played a very important role in overcoming COVID-19 in Jakarta. Especially when number of active cases was at the highest in June-July. At that time, hospitals in Jakarta experienced shortage of beds for COVID-19 patients. Thus Haji Pondok Gede Hospital was used as an emergency hospital for handling COVID-19 patients.

"When active cases are high in Jakarta, Haji Pondok Gede Hospital provides health services to the community. Surely, health volunteers' role in this emergency hospital is also very important in overcoming COVID-19," she stated.

According to her, Haji Pondok Gede Hospital provided 70 beds for COVID-19 patients. At that time, operations at this hospital were under responsibility of Dharmais Cancer Hospital and Jakarta Heart Center Hospital. However, it took less than two years for cases to decline and not all of the beds in this hospital were used by COVID-19 patients.

"They come from 15 provinces in Indonesia. They play a very important role and contribute a lot in handling COVID-19 in Jakarta," she expressed.

In this city tour, health volunteers visited Kota Tua, Istiqlal Mosque, Cathedral Church, Jakarta City Hall, and other places. They also have the opportunity to take mass transportation modes in Jakarta, such as Transjakarta buses and MRT trains.

"Later on , they can share their experiences with other health workers and wider community outside Jakarta," she said.