Curbing COVID-19 in Papua : Robust synergy across actors of different sectors is necessary
Papua’s Provincial government has regulated the movement limitations to its residents, including the temporary closure of passenger ports and Sentani Airport in Papua, with only cargo flight allowed — as an effort to prevent COVID-19 transmission in the region. The increasing COVID-19 cases in Papua has led the provincial government to raise the status from emergency alert to emergency response, as written by Kompas.com.
In response to this, the Indonesian central government and Papua Provincial Government are maintaining collaboration and synergy civil society, youth leaders, customary leaders, and security authorities in Papua to help to curb the pandemic there.
Earlier, Indonesian President Joko Widodo issued Government Regulation №21/2020 on Large Scale Social Distancing as an implementing regulation of the 2018 Health Quarantine Law to restrict the movement of people and goods within the control zone which includes the large-scale social restrictions and the closure of schools, workplaces, restrictions on religious activities and restrictions on activities in public places.
The president urged the regional and local leaders to apply social restrictions to contain the worsening COVID-19 outbreak. The state’s budget allocation of 405,1 trillion rupiahs (around $24,7 billion) for handling the impact of the pandemic was announced. The 75 trillion rupiahs will be allocated for the health care, 110 trillion rupiahs for the social safety nets, 70,1 trillion rupiahs for tax incentives, and stimulus for businesses.
Effective coordination for better measures
In Papua at the moment, Papuan civil servants are working from home in order to avoid any possible risks of COVID-19 transmissions. The local government has instructed that their officials need to be a leading example to help people fight the virus by staying at home.
As of 24 April 2020, Dr. Silvanus Sumule, Sp.OG (K), a spokesperson of Papua’s COVID-19 task force, said that now the number of positive corona cases in Papua is 131 cases (23/16/2020).
“The number of COVID-19 positive patients is 131…. Of these, 89 patients were treated, 35 were cured (27 percent), seven died,” said Silwanus Sumule through the Zoom application to the media crew as reported by Kompas, on Thursday (4/23/2020).
He also said that with regard to the budget allocation for COVID-19 pandemic, Papua’s Provincial Government has agreed to spend 287 billion rupiahs for social safety nets, economic recovery, and health needs — excluding 25 billion rupiahs in the beginning that has been used for buying such personal protective equipments and rapid tests.
The good news is that more positive patients are showing positive recovery. As of now, 35 patients have recovered, or 27 percet of recovery rate that people have been declared recovered from the infection.
Papua Province government itself applied a restriction to those entering and leaving for Papua. Changes in regulations have been undertaken subsequently according to the situation escalation. Kompas.com writes that the governor has passed the regulation.
“I, the undersigned, Lukas Enembe S.Ip, MH (Governor of Papua), hereby declare, raising the coronavirus emergency alert status to an emergency response status,” said Papua Deputy Governor Klemen Tinal, in Jayapura, last Wednesday (8/4/2020).
Enforcement of emergency response status in Papua will begin to be implemented on 9 April 2020 and is valid for 28 days or two incubation periods. With that status, social restrictions and closure of access in and out of Papua are extended for 14 days.
Dr. Silvanus Sumule said that there remain challenges on the ground given the lack of proper masks, gowns, and eye gear for the doctors, nurses, and those at the forefront of fighting the coronavirus in Papua — which surely put their lives at high risk. The rising demand for personal protective equipment indeed should be met by the supply. He further elaborated that Papua needs 4.000–5.000 personal protective equipment to prepare for the bump in coronavirus cases in the region.
Authority ready to help tackling COVID-19 in Papua
Last month, on 30 March, 2020, Indonesian Air Force’s Hercules landed in Sentani Airport and carrying 2,3 tons of personal protective equipment from the Indonesian Ministry of Health. This is the second air force’s Hercules who arrived in Papua as the first has also carried six containers of personal protective equipment for medical workers in Papua.
Last week, April 11st 2020, Indonesian Air Force send Boeing 7306 by carrying 3,4 ton of all medical equipments, including the personal protective equipments for Papua Province and 1,2 ton others for West Papua Province.
Indonesian security forces (TNI-POLRI) who have been posted in Papua for the security missions also actively take part in the coronavirus mitigation effort. The local government of Jayawijaya regency is working together with Indonesian security forces under “COVID-19 Jayawijaya Task Force” to do disinfectant spraying in all public spaces in Jayawijaya regency such as market, mall, office, main street, and other parts of the city.
Besides, the presence of Indonesian Security forces is also seen in Hamadi Rawa, South Jayapura to help spray disinfectant in villages. Together with the local government and community leaders, they help ensure that people are not leaving the house frequently nor too far, given the provincial mitigation measures the spread of coronavirus.
Demand of collaborative contributions
All stakeholders and actors, both informal and informal, are equally active in tackling the spread of COVID-19 in Papua. Recently, on Tuesday (4/14), Abepura Regional Hospital received assistance for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from a group of young Papuan youths called Papua Muda Inspiratif or Inspirational Papuan Youth (PMI). This assistance was intended for local hospital medical personnel.
The youth organization’s Executive Director Neil Aiwoy revealed that what were handed over also included N95 masks, surgical masks, aprons, coveralls, and gloves.
“We, of course, cannot fulfill all PPE needs for COVID-19 in Jayapura City and Regency. But at least what we are doing today can help reduce the burden on the Regional Government in the limitation of PPE in Jayapura City and Regency,” said Neil (14/4).
Papua Muda Inspiratif is a collaborative movement of young active Papuans across ethnicities, which was established in October 2019. Its membership has reached approximately 300 people who are mostly local leading young figures and spread across seven customary regions of Papua and West Papua provinces.
More serious measures are undertaken
Recently, the Indonesian government declared that the implementation of the National Sports Week (PON) in Papua is to be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sporting event which was originally to be held in October 2020 was shifted to October 2021.
Besides, the Papua Provincial Government has extended the closure of access to and outflow of human traffic, at airports and ports until May 6, 2020. This was done because the number of positive cases of COVID-19 continued to increase in Papua.
“We will continue to be effective (closing airports and ports) from 24 April to 6 May. This is because cases in Papua continue to increase,” said Deputy Governor of Papua Klemen Tinal, in Jayapura on Wednesday as reported by Kompas.com.
