It’s Our Job, We Have to Do It
Amid social distancing and the suggestion to work from home, the hospital workers indeed have to get into the places that are most prone to coronavirus infections.
Bouquets of flowers as an expression of gratitude to the health workers of Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital, Jakarta, continued to arrive. Until Thursday (19/3/2020), 10 bouquets of flowers had been sent to the hospital, which had been assigned as a referral hospital to deal with COVID-19.
"You are the real hero," reads one of the messages attached to a wreath given in appreciation to the hospital\'s workers.
Amid social distancing and the suggestion to work from home, the hospital workers indeed have to get into the places that are most prone to coronavirus infections. Some of those on the frontline are morgue workers and ambulance drivers.
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It is the job of Endang, 48, a worker at Sulianti Saroso Hospital’s morgue, and his team members to pick up the body of a patient who died of COVID-19. There is a special corridor for them to take deceased COVID-19 patients from the isolation room to the morgue. The morgue workers do wear personal protective gear (APD).
You are the real hero.
"We cannot take another way; we have to take the designated corridor,” said Endang, who has been working at the morgue for 10 years.
Cleaning a body cannot be done alone. If the body weighs 80 kilograms, it takes three people to carry and bathe it. Armed with a complete protective gear, Endang dismissed his anxiety.
"Why should I be anxious? It’s my job. I have to do it,” said the resident of Cikampek, West Java.
Under normal circumstances, Endang returns home every two weeks to Cikampek. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, he said, he had not returned home in three weeks. His children and wife have tolerated his situation. Especially his wife; he told her not to talk about his busy job to neighbors.
"I asked my wife to pray for me to stay healthy," said the father of three.
Many see Endang\'s job as high risk — which is correct.
As of Thursday (19/3), three COVID-19 patients have died at Sulianto Saroso Hospital. Another patient who died later tested negative.
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UK, 37, an ambulance driver, transports the body of patients who were positive for COVID-19 for burial. One time, it was not clear yet whether the deceased patient was positive or negative for COVID-19.
"Actually, I was anxious, too. At that time, the result of the patient’s swab test was not known yet. But it’s my job, so I have to go through it," he said.
Based on Kompas data, the body that was transported by UK was that of a patient known as Case 36, who died on March 12 (12/3). Case 36 was a nurse working at a state-owned hospital. The patient was brought to Sulianti Saroso Hospital in poor health.
According to UK, the body was brought to Cibitung, Bekasi regency, West Java, in the evening. "It was raining," he recalled.
The body was immediately taken to the cemetery. At the cemetery, he continued, there were already police personnel and local health officials waiting for the ambulance. UK was bombarded with various questions.
But it’s my job, so I have to go through it.
"They asked me about the status of the dead body [whether positive for COVID-19 or not]. I told them I didn\'t know because the test result had not been issued."
UK has only been working as an ambulance driver for three years. Previously, he worked as a security guard at Sulianti Saroso Hospital. This change cannot be called a promotion because the salary he receives remains the same. However, the position as an ambulance driver is more in line with the interest of UK, who graduated from an automotive vocational school.
"At least, I still deal with cars," he said with a smile.
Work procedures
Siti Fatimah Hanum, head of Sulianti Saroso Hospital’s morgue, said the unit employs five staffers. Every time they work, they wear complete protective gear. They also get hepatitis B vaccinations.
"They also have to take care of themselves. They have to avoid infectious substances from the dead body, such as body fluids, blood, urine and others," she explained in a written interview.
The process of treating a corpse is carried out in accordance with the religious teachings and beliefs of the dead body. The process is not determined based on whether the body is positive or negative for COVID-19.
"If a COVID-19 patient died, we treat them using a special method," she said.
The treatment for dead patients who have infectious diseases begins with disinfecting them, followed with a decontamination process. The dead bodies that have undergone these treatments should not be exposed again but should be immediately taken to the cemetery.
"This is important and needs to be conveyed and communicated to the family," he said.
Mohammad Syahril, president director of Sulianti Saroso Hospital, explained that professions such as morgue workers and ambulance drivers are no less important than doctors and nurses.
Unfortunately, and this is a concern, the number of protective gear that meets requirements is very limited.
"The morgue workers are a noble profession. Not everyone is willing to work bathing a corpse. They are full of dedication," he said.
The principle of Sucahyo Adi Nugroho, a doctor at Sulianti Suroso Hospital, is worth learning. Instead of refusing the assignment, he was proud to be part of a team of Indonesian citizens that was assigned to pick-up the crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, a ship that had been quarantined in Japan.
"My superior always gives me an option, whether I am ready or not. I said I am ready because it is an honor for me," he said.
A similar story was also told by Ungky Agus Setiawan, one of the doctors who treats COVID-19 patients at Saiful Anwar Hospital in Malang, East Java, on Wednesday (18/3). At that time, the hospital officially announced there was a patient positive COVID-19.
"The vigilance of people working in the frontlines like us is by always wearing protective gear, always taking a shower after handling a case and taking supplements to boost our immune system," he said with a smile.
Unfortunately, and this is a concern, the number of protective gear that meets requirements is very limited. Now, the Saiful Anwar Hospital also has difficulty getting protective gear and a number of similar equipment, some of which can only be used once.