Surabaya's Risma Meets with Key Medical Staff to Curb Covid-19 Chain of Transmission

SURABAYA, KOMPAS.com – Surabaya Mayor Tri 'Risma' Rismaharini met with key medical staff of hospitals and health centers to discuss the East Java city’s next move in addressing the growing number of Covid-19 cases.

Risma met with a number of hospital directors, heads of community healthcare centers (Puskesmas), and sub-district officials from Surabaya on July 1.

Expert Staff members at Indonesia’s Ministry of Health Daniel Tjen, Jajang Edi Priyatno, and Alexander Kaliaga Ginting attended the meeting.

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At the meeting, Risma passed around a piece of paper then asked each hospital director and sub-district officials to write down their needs and challenges when dealing with Covid-19 patients.

“Please Sir and Madam, write on the paper. Whatever problem you have, we are all in this together in overcoming the difficulties,” said Risma at Surabaya City Hall.

Risma highlighted the range of measures the city’s government has undertaken to break the chain of transmission.

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Under her leadership, Risma’s administration has amped up contact tracing efforts, provided additional food supplies, and created the Kampung Tangguh Wani Jogo Suroboyo.

The inclusion of sub-district government officials is part of Risma’s outreach effort to better understand the obstacles in identifying Covid-19 patients.

Risma has received reports that sub-district officials find it hard to meet with Covid-19 patients in their homes.

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“When sub-district officials visit the house of Covid-19 patients, some of them reject their presence. Yet we have to get them to self-isolate. It’s not about residents excluding the patient, it’s that the patient is embarrassed,” said Risma.

Risma emphasized that Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto has instructed Surabaya to bring down its Covid-19 fatality rate.

To do so, Risma expressed her willingness to assist in the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).