(A seminar held by PGIW DIY on Covid 19 Handling Management)

By: Thomas Yulianto

Since the beginning of 2020, Covid-19 has not ended until now in 2021. There are new types of Covid-19 variants that hit Indonesia, namely Alpha and Delta, which have spread in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. This new virus variant has more severe symptoms than the previous one. People exposed to the new type of virus will get a fever, shortness of breath, dry cough to fatal if it is not handled correctly. Regarding to the virus as an infectious disease, it is necessary to deal with the spread of the virus quickly and immediately. It is unfortunate when the new variant of the virus has infected many people, but the people are reluctant to work together to fight the spread of the virus. Perhaps the people are bored in applying health protocols to stop the spread of the new variant of the Covid-19 virus.

From the data, the Covid 19 cases increase, it was recorded that in the last week of June 2021, more than 20.000 people were exposed only in a day (20.574 cases per June 24, 2021), so it needs serious attention. As part of efforts to strengthen the community in dealing with the pandemic, the Regional Association of Indonesian Churches (PGIW) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta initiated a Seminar and Management Training for Handling Covid-19 and Natural Disaster Problems at Wisma Immanuel, Samirono, Depok district, Sleman regency on Friday, June 25, 2021, by inviting representatives of churches in DIY and community institutions including student organizations.

Related to the topic, PGIW DIY invited resource persons in the handling of Covid-19 and Natural Disasters, such as Covid19 Handling Task Force of Depok district, who is also the Depok district Secretary, Wakhid Basroni, S.IP. M.Sc. He revealed the handling of the pandemic in the Depok district was unable to accommodate all needs due to limited personnel, thus requiring the cooperation of various parties, government officials, health workers, and the community themselves to be disciplined in applying health protocols. He also emphasized that self-awareness is the main key. The head of the Health Promotion section of the Depok District Health Center, Aditya Sejati S.K.M, M.K.M., explained that the virus will continue to mutate so the keys to anticipate the spread of the new variant are the people must keep the existing health procedures including checking the availability of clean water, periodic disinfectants, quality masks, and temperature checks. Regarding the disasters topic, Suparlan from the Sheep Indonesia Foundation revealed that Covid is a disaster and it is classified as a non-natural disaster, namely disease outbreaks. Two steps can be done, namely disaster management to deal with the virus and disaster risk reduction with applying health protocols and vaccination. Vaccination is the government's responsibility and should be supported. The vaccination program was received by the community, but some were still doubtful. Some refused it, some others wanted a vaccine but had difficulty accessing the information.

From this seminar, there was a discussion about boarding students who were exposed to Covid-19 and asked to leave by the boarding house owner to avoid the infection to others. However, it is not easy for the boarding students to leave immediately and this must get attention, whether the boarding house owner's actions are appropriate and what should be done? The government provided shelter facilities for people exposed to Covid-19 for self-isolation and provided the needs of meals three times a day, as well as vitamins. However, this information has not been widely informed. More socialization is needed regarding the facilities provided to people exposed to Covid-19 and the surrounding community so that there is no disinformation between the community and the government.

At the end of the seminar, the Chairperson of PGIW DIY, Rev. Em. Bambang Sumbodo, S.Th., M.Min., said that churches and community empowerment institutions could not remain silent but provide socialization. The church needs to be calm in dealing with the spread of Covid-19, but also eager to do the action because the pandemic situation hit not only physically but also psychologically. The church should come, greet, accompany and present even though virtually or by video call. The church must move and be brave to be busy and dare to work hard.

Now, we need to move with a new spirit to help each other and pay attention to others who are sick, exposed, or isolated, while keep to have self-awareness to apply health protocols. Let's move to protect ourselves and others and to respond to the call for humanitarian solidarity.***