Improve The Discipline of Visitors to do Health Protocol (Nature and Environment in Goa Gong Tourism Area, Pacitan)

Thursday, 24 December 2020
by Wilton Paskalis D. Ama

 

 

 

Goa Gong is a UNESCO-recognized conserved tourist area since 2015. Every conserved area must apply procedures how important to maintain the cleanliness of nature and its environment. However, it comes back to one's consciousness to do it in everyday life. Ethics in keeping conserved areas comfortable and clean are important to be applied. Putting noticement on a board or billboard and providing a garbage bins is one of the simple ways that can be done. Placed the noticement and the bins at several points makes easy for every visitor to see them. It has been done in Goa Gong tourism area, Pacitan. Cleanliness is one of the important health indicators applied. This is in line with what is discussed during the Health Problem workshop held by Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta which must be implemented in daily life, one of which is environmental hygiene and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

A clean environment stimulates beautiful nature. In addition to a clean environment, the growth of various types of plants and trees will have a positive impact on nature and the surrounding environment. The green natural beauty will stimulate positive energy for everyone, especially visitors who come as tourists in Gong Cave. Geographical and natural conditions that are hilly and overgrown with various types of plants add to the beauty of this region.

 

 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the health protocols implemented by Goa Gong tourism officers is providing gloves for every visitor, in addition of hand washing and body temperature checks. However, keeping the distance among visitors is still not discipline-enforced, although several times officers reminded them. It happens because of the lack of awareness of visitors, even among them talking jokes and singing without wearing a mask. Such conduct deserves attention because it will be a health problem that has a negative impact to many other people.

 

 

Self-awareness and sensitivity to natural and environmental situations are issues that may be difficult to do for certain people. Recreation and natural visit give people the opportunity to learn that a clean environment will give positive energy in their daily lives. Nature cannot speak like a human being, but it can show its beauty so that people can realize how important nature and the environment are to life. ***


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Supporting Each Other's Economy During Pandemics

Wednesday, 23 December 2020
by Thomas Yulianto
 

 

 

 

 

No denying that almost one year, Covid-19 pandemic is taking place in Indonesia. Even in December 2020, there has been no decrease in the number of Covid-19 patients, even on the contrary the figures show an increase. The opportunity to have exposure to cave Gong tourism village and Klayar beach in Pacitan, East Java during the pandemic, gives the author an experience to observe how people respond to the pandemic.

 

 

Cave Gong and Klayar beach are among the UNESCO-recognized tourist spots since 2015, so the number of visitors is high. Since the pandemic broke out, tourist spots are closed so that the economy of businesses around the tourist area has dropped dramatically, including the levy of  location entrances, parking lots, traders, tour guides to toilet tips. One of the agate traders in Goa Gong region told me that usually their income was enough to eat, but during the pandemic their income falling down even zero. Unluckily, there is no other option except waiting for tourists to come again and to buy their merchandise.

 

 

Klayar beach offers the beauty of the seashore. Many local people work as beach motorcycle taxis that transport passengers from the beach to the exit gate which is quite far and uphill.  During this pandemic, the number of beach taxi drivers is more compared to the number of tourists who come. It is clear that their income is greatly reduced. A beach motorcycle taxi driver told me that he has not got any passengers a whole day. One thing that deserves to get thumbs up is they do not give up, even they are sure that fortune will always be provided for them. Actually, it is not only those in coastal areas or caves that are affected by the pandemic in economy. Many people are economically affected by the pandemic due to the reduction of employees in the workplace, do not have permanent jobs even farmers because of the decrease of purchasing power among the people.

Through exposure and field observation, the writer has a reflection that empathy and action are needed to support each other economically by buying merchandise or using the services offered. Let's share the bread by not only considering our needs, but supporting each other, in order to achieve balance. "The one who gathered much, did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8: 15).***


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Safeguarding Others in Tourism Areas

Tuesday, 22 December 2020
by Trustha Rembaka

(Observation of Health Procedures in Goa Gong, Pacitan)

 

Current health problems in Indonesia cannot be separated from the reality of the Covid 19 pandemic that is still happening. The pandemic hit various fields of community activity, covering government, education, economy, religion, trade including tourism. The government, with a variety of policies, is trying to get every sector keeps on its way, and the people are trying to get up by optimizing their potencies. Since the midyear, the government has been campaigning the new normal as a response to live with a new pattern, including the implementation of health protocols in individuals, at work, and in public places to lift up the people's lives.

 

 

Based on the observation made through exposure or study visit as part of the Health Problems in Indonesia program carried out in Goa Gong (Cave Gong) in Pacitan regency, East Java (19/12/2020) it is known that the cave located in Bomo village, Punung district, Pacitan Regency is part of the Global Geopark Network acknowledged by UNESCO in 2015. The Geopark area itself stretches in three regencies, namely Gunungkidul regency (DIY), Wonogiri regency (Central Java), and Pacitan Regency (East Java), and specifically in Pacitan itself, the geopark consists of caves, beaches, and archeological sites.

 

Considering that the cave is included in a high-risk area exposed to the Covid-19 virus, so tourism in the Gong cave requires a special treatment for the safety and security of visitors from the exposure to the virus. The threat of exposure is due to the presence of a group of visitors and the touch on the fences and rocks in the pathways in the cave so that the tour manager is trying to seriously implement health protocols with several new policies such as the use of gloves, tour guides accompaniment, management of visitor number per group, distance arrangement of per group entry and the duration of visit inside the cave.

 

In addition to the policies above, the tourism destination manager has also equipped the tourism destination with: 1) warning boards, banners dan posters containing information on the implementation of health protocols in several spots; 2) doing health checks such as gloves for visitors, body temperature,  masks, and regulating the number of visitors per group; 3) providing facilities to maintain cleanliness and health for washing hands and the availability of sufficient water, even almost every kiosk selling souvenirs providing handwashing facilities, trash bins according to the type of garbage and routine cleaning of facilities by the staffs; 4) tourist guide role to remind visitors tirelessly to maintain health protocols besides explaining the spots in the cave and various stories of it.

 

 

These findings show the serious readiness of the managers and all parties involved in the tourist area of Goa Gong in implementing health protocols. This should be balanced that visitors also behave healthily during the visit. However, the implementation of the health protocol in the Goa Gong area left a new problem that must be seriously considered by the manager, that is, the waste of gloves. How come? Please consider the presence of five hundred visitors per day with a thousand used-gloves per day.

 

 

 

It is expected that these findings will open people's optimism to be consistent with a new life implementation based on a clean and healthy lifestyle so that better public health can be realized and the existence of Goa Gong as God's gift in the form of a very valuable geological heritage can bring prosperity to the community. ***


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Working Women in the Midst of Pandemic

Monday, 21 December 2020
by Putri Nirmala Valentina Laoli

 

Walking through the Goa Gong in the midst of a pandemic is not only admiring the beauty of the stalactites and stalagmites, stone curtains which turned to marble, crystals, and 'sendang' (water spring), but also reviving tourism as a livelihood  for the local residents. Twenty-five minutes I explored the cave while digging up the struggles of a woman who works as a local tour guide when tourism is suspended.

 

The problem of the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia has affected community activities in various fields directly or indirectly. One of the most impactful is the closure of almost tourism destinations which have been a source of income for the people in many regions likewise what happened at Goa Gong tourist attractions in Bomo village, Punung district, Pacitan Regency, East Java. Before the Covid-19 hit, visitor interest was high enough so that tour guides have the opportunity to guide tourists. It is their source of income. However, since March 2020, Goa Gong has been closed for tourist visits, therefore people who previously had economic activity from the tourism spot could not survive.

 

 

Based on an interview with one of the tour guides, there are 26 tour guides consisting of 16 women and 8 men. The women who become tour guides in Goa Gong work to support the stability of their family's economy and they get full support from their family so they can focus and be professional when they are working to guide tourists. They also do their job joyfully and enthusiastically because they can interact with people from various regions even abroad.

 

 

The government tries to implement solutions that can make balance between economy running for society and minimizing the spread of Covid-19. The implementation of the New Normal by complying health protocols, people can do their previous activities as before with certain limits, such as crowd quota and the availability of facilities to carry out health protocols. The access to tourism destination is starting to be reopened by emphasizing the implementation of health protocols.

In fact, the New Normal policy cannot automatically restore life as before. However, it will help even though slowly to recover the weakened sectors and consequently it takes time. Likewise, Goa Gong tourism has been reopened since September 2020, although still for local visitors. The number of visitors is still low, while the availability of tour guides is still the same as the number before Covid-19. One of the guide women said that during this deserted time she had to find an additional work, she works at home industry for herbal medicine. "I don’t know anything else to do, the important thing is my family is healthy and able to afford food,” she added. This is a manifestation of women's struggle to survive even though they have to deal with the threatening of Covid-19 spread. Long live the working women!


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Paying Attention to Mother and Baby: Paying Attention to Life (Health problems mapping in Indonesia)

Monday, 14 December 2020
by Isna Efrieno

 

Health problems are still a concern in Indonesia, even it can be said vulnerable, because starting from a trivial matter, human life can be threatened if it is not handled properly, especially in remote areas with limited health services. These various health problems arise from a variety of geographical conditions in Indonesia, including Manggarai regency, east Nusa Tenggara province where I live.

 

 

One issue that makes me concerned much is the death rate of mother and baby. In 2018 Manggarai District Health Office Report stated that one of the problems is maternal and infant deaths, as well as malnutrition. Some obstacles to overcome the problem include limited human resources health workers, geographical conditions of the region, culture, distribution of health workers, not optimal implementation of SOP in the first level of health facilitation (FKTP), health budget and limited quality medical devices. Health human resources are limited ranging from quantity, quality, type and distribution of general practitioners, nutritionists, pharmacists, health analysis, etc. This limitation hinders the health services and worse the available health workers are overwhelmed by simultaneously tasks so that the work to handle patients is abandoned or delayed. 

 

What should we do? Good handling begins from mapping the factors related to the problem, especially in Manggarai. First, improving health human resources through education and technical training in the field of health including evenly distribution of health workers in Manggarai, especially in remote difficult-to-reach areas with the availability of first services for patients, especially for pregnant women and childbirth.

 

 

It is not easy and it needs government intervention because not everyone is ready to be in remote areas. There are government efforts to improve health with Nusantara Sehat program from the Ministry of Health to improve access and quality of health services to health care facilities in disadvantaged areas, borders and islands, as well as in health-troubled areas, by providing professional doctors, nurses, midwives, public health workers, environmental health workers, medical laboratory technology experts, nutritionists and pharmaceutical workers. In 2017 Manggarai received twenty-two health workers from Nusantara Sehat program and they were distributed in 4 health centers: Wae Kajong, Reo, Bea Mese and Iteng, consisting of general practitioners, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, sanitarian and nutrition workers matched with the needs of first health centre  (kupang.tribunnews.com/2017/09/07/22-tenaga-kesehatan-tim-nusantara-sehat-bertugas-di-kabupaten-manggarai). Next, why is maternal and infant death still vulnerable? Another closely related factor is the family, as the first circle of mothers and infants. The family should strive for their safety  and ensure the availability of the needs of mothers and infants since pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Unluckily, the condition of the families is very diverse, covering the level of education, self-awareness, how to meet the needs of life plus cultural and geographical factors. Thus, health education is needed for families, not only the prospective mothers who will care for their babies  and their husbands, but also extended families.

 

The Church can be involved to improve the quality of health. Has the church been paying attention and involved to handle the health problems of citizens and the community? The Church is a place of responsibility in ministry, it is necessary to play a role in health for example through preaching about health based on religious and Biblical teachings, socialization about health because it is also an effort to maintain and care for one's self as a noble and reasoned creature of God. Other alternatives can do monitoring the health of the congregation regularly and do efforts to improve the nutrition of the congregation. So that the church is not only worship but it is more than that as a form of complete love of the Church towards its people.

 

 

Health issues become a common responsibility, the government through the field of health, awareness of individuals engaged in health, the behavior of individuals in families and communities and other institutions that pay attention to this social problem. From the findings of maternal and infant mortality problems around me, made me more aware and equipped to realize the importance of health for myself, my family and the surrounding in which I live and continue to participate for a better Manggarai.***

 

 

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RW 19 Nyutran: establishing a resilient kampong against Covid 19

Monday, 7 December 2020
by Trustha Rembaka

 

 

The increasing cases of Covid 19 have become a deep concern for the people of Yogyakarta, especially the residents of RW (housing group) 19. Covid 19 has even arrived in front of the community. Realizing that the handling of Covid 19 cannot fully depend on the health workers, the community must be actively involved in the level of prevention and providing information as the first step. The residents’ awareness and enthusiasm for continuing to seek information related to Covid 19 have been warmly welcomed by Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta through the Health Problems in Indonesia program. Stube HEMAT initiated dialogue and education to the community, as a contribution to community development, especially in the health sector related to the Covid 19 pandemic. This virtual dialogue was attended by the housing group management and members of the Covid Task Force team of kampong Nyutran with the topic of ‘Resilient village against Covid 19’ facilitated by Endro Sambodo as the source person, from the fast reaction team (TRC) of the BPBD DIY (Regional Disaster Management Agency of the Special Region of Yogyakarta) on Sunday (6/12/2020).

 

 

In the opening, Ariani Narwastujati, the Executive Director of Stube HEMAT as well as the moderator revealed that this topic was chosen to answer the challenges and problems that occur among people to establish a resilient kampong against Covid 19. The head of the Covid task force RW 19, Didiet Raditya Hadi welcomed this activity and thanked the resource person who has allocated his time in a virtual dialogue that was held for the first time during the pandemic. He hoped that this meeting will be beneficial for the community, especially the residents of RW 19 to know things related to the resilient kampong against Covid 19.

 

Endro Sambodo in his presentation of the material reminded the importance of a resilient kampong/village against Covid 19 because the pandemic outbreak in the Special Region of Yogyakarta is increasing. It requires the participation of the community from the RT/RW level to immediately empower themselves so that the community is spry to act if an outbreak hits their area. With the alacrity of the local community responding to the outbreak, the handling can be done quickly and precisely so that the chain of transmission can be stopped and prevent more virus exposure. In connection with the resilient kampong against Covid 19, Endro revealed the steps that must be fulfilled, namely: 1) The village management has a community communication system via Whatsapp, SMS, or other communication applications. 2) Regulations must be implemented for the safety of the residents, especially regarding community gatherings, special events, the presence of migrants or travelers, including sanctions agreements that are agreed together. 3) Fast communication for any incident in the area. 4) Appointing residents or asking for a volunteer from the residents to be in charge of the required sectors. 5) Establish the divisions of communication, health, operations, logistics, and security. Another important note is preventing social stigma to protect people exposed to Covid 19, that being exposed to Covid 19 is not a disgrace.

 

 

Endar Hidayati, the chairwoman of RW 19 said, "This dialogue is very good to open up our awareness as managers of kampong Nyutran how to have a Covid 19 resilient kampong. This new knowledge becomes our reference to prepare follow-up steps to be more alert and aware in facing Covid, invisible but actually existing". It is hoped that the experience in this educational dialogue will be an added value for each participant and new knowledge to realize a resilient community facing Covid 19 pandemic. Let us continue to work together in harmony, Bravo RW 19.***


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Youth and Psychosocial Problems

Sunday, 6 December 2020
by Putri N V. Laoli

 

 

 

Mental health with the topic 'Psychosocial Problems of Youth' became part of the Health Problems in Indonesia training held by Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta through virtual discussion on Dec 5, 2020. Twenty student participants from various study backgrounds in Yogyakarta and outside Yogyakarta such as Sumba, Lampung, Nias, Flores, Bangka, Maluku, and Cilacap, coloring the discussion which invited Yosef Andre Beo as a resource person. Andre is familiar with Stube HEMAT because he was active in this institution while studying in Yogyakarta. Now, he is completing a Master in Mental Nursing at Brawijaya University Malang.


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