Alarming Signals in Primary Health Services

Kompas/Priyombodo

Officers spray disinfectant at the Pondok Betung Health Center, Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, Banten, which is used as a transit point for Covid-19 patients, Saturday (23/1/2021). The government has extended the implementation period of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) in Java and Bali for the next 14 days from January 26 to February 8, 2021. This extension was carried out due to the high cases of Covid-19 transmission.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — One hundred twenty-six medical workers of community health centers (Puskesmas) have died of Covid-19. The rising death toll in primary healthcare services marks an increasingly wide and deep spread of Covid-19 in the community.

Data from Pusara Digital ReportCovid19 show that the total number of health workers in Indonesia who have died has reached 652 people as of Sunday (24/1/2021). That number includes 277 doctors, 210 nurses, 87 midwives, 15 medical laboratory personnel and other health professionals. This data was obtained from people’s reports and data from a number of professional organizations, such as the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) and the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI).