Beware of the Disaster Cluster

People staying at post-disaster evacuation sites are vulnerable to contracting Covid-19. The mitigation of evacuees must be more stringent by implementing health protocols.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Earthquake survivors queue for logistical assistance at the Deputy Regent of Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi, Monday (18/1/2021). The post is one of the places for providing logistical assistance for earthquake survivors in Mamuju.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Many volunteers, including health workers on duty in areas affected by the earthquakes in Majene and Mamuju, West Sulawesi, have contracted Covid-19. The risk of Covid-19 transmission in this disaster area needs to get attention for other regions.

"There is a trend of an increase in risk of Covid-19 transmission in earthquake-affected areas in West Sulawesi, especially among volunteers. Many volunteers have tested positive for Covid-19, including those who have returned from there,” said Tri Maharani, an emergency doctor who is part of the Emergency Medical Team (EMT) of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), in Jakarta, Thursday (4/2/2021).

Many volunteers have tested positive for Covid-19, including those who have returned from there

For a week, helping the mitigation of emergency conditions in Mamuju and Majene, Tri and the IDI EMT team saw the lax implementation of health protocols in evacuation sites. "The evacuation design had not been prepared to anticipate the outbreak and awareness of wearing masks is low," she said.

The high level of transmission at the earthquake disaster locations can be seen from the results of the examination of the Mobile Laboratory of the Makassar Class I Environmental Health and Disease Control Center, which is seconded in West Sulawesi.

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An examination on Thursday (4/2) showed that out of 150 samples of volunteers who were examined, 105 people had tested positive for Covid-19. This means, the ratio of test positivity rate is 70 percent. Examination data on Wednesday (3/2) showed that 70 out of 112 samples were tested positive for Covid-19. On Tuesday (2/2), of the 22 samples examined, 10 were positive for Covid-19.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

A girl who is a victim of the West Sulawesi earthquake carries her younger sister at the evacuation post at the South Sulawesi Social Service, Makassar, Tuesday (19/1/2021). Hundreds of people fled to South Sulawesi after the earthquake struck Mamuju and Majene.

Chairman of IDI EMT Lucky Tjahyono explained that from the results of the IDI EMT evaluation in West Sulawesi regarding the increase in Covid-19 cases after the earthquakes, it was recommended that there should be a centralized isolation house. A volunteer protection system while on duty in the field also needs to be established. "It is necessary to assess the number and specifications of volunteers as well as routine screening of volunteers and health workers every week," he said.

Health protection for volunteers and strict health protocols are required for the services provided by health workers and volunteers. For example, it is necessary to provide disinfectant booths. Moreover, there must be sufficient personal protective equipment for health workers, including N95 masks, before providing services at the evacuation sites.

The IDI EMT team also underlined the importance of standardizing referral hospitals for severe symptoms. Regular monitoring of health workers and volunteers who are at risk of contracting Covid-19 is also needed.

Also read: Overcoming Vaccination Data Issues

According to Tri, if many volunteers and health workers have contracted Covid-19, the risk of transmission in the evacuation sites is very high. That complicates the recovery of residents after the disaster. "We need to prepare for mitigating emergency conditions during the pandemic. Moreover, disasters have also occurred in many places, including in South Kalimantan," he said.

Previously, Covid-19 Mitigating Task Force head Doni Monardo tested positive for Covid-19 after visiting disaster areas in West Sulawesi and South Kalimantan, Saturday (23/1). One of Doni\'s staff members who took part in a working visit in West Sulawesi and South Kalimantan was also positive for Covid-19.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Chairman of the Covid-19 Task Force Doni Monardo at Manakarra Stadium, Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Tuesday (19/1/2021).

Information openness

The openness and dissemination of information regarding health services and social assistance is a major problem in mitigating the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia, in addition to problems of testing, tracing and isolation. The government needs to encourage citizen participation by strengthening institutionalized voices from below.

The evaluation of Covid-19 mitigating services was assessed in a study by the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID). "The survey was conducted in August-November 2020," said INFID executive director Sugeng Bahagija.

Also read: Efforts to Bring Joy Back into Lives of Child Survivors in West Sulawesi

Also read: Preparing to Anticipate Disasters

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 vaccination program continues in a number of regions. As of yesterday, 611 health workers were vaccinated in Aceh. The Aceh Provincial Government was asked to develop a strategy to accelerate the vaccination.

The inoculation of vaccines is also taking place in 15 regencies/cities in Lampung. According to the acting head of the South Lampung Health Office, Eka Riantinawati, health workers on small islands in South Lampung had received the Covid-19 vaccine. ( AIK/ TAN/AIN/ VIO)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.