Diverse, but One Purpose
The initiative that various individuals have taken to fight against COVID-19 in their own ways evokes optimism. That spirit has become Indonesia\'s important capital in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - When commemorating National Awakening Day on Wednesday (20/5/2020), the Indonesian people are still struggling to cope with the crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The outbreak has been dealt with in various ways: some are isolating themselves, some are taking advantage of the misfortune, still others are indifferent. However, there are not a few who choose to work beyond the interests of themselves or groups.
During the establishment of Budi Utomo 112 years ago, people who gathered in the spirit of advancing the nation - even though on a limited scale - worked beyond the limits of social identity and individual interests. The momentum was used as a starting point to celebrate Indonesia\'s national revival.
At present there are also many individuals from various ethnicities, religions, social classes and professions who work alone or communally with the same goal, which is to help others fight against COVID-19.
In addition to medical personnel, such as doctors and nurses who take care of COVID-19 patients, there are individuals who contribute funds and expertise to help. They include Ahmad Alghozi Ramadhant, Ariyo Zidni, Novi Kurnia, Ngademi Agung Firmansyah, Elina Ciptadi, Iqbal Elyazar, Irma Hidayana and Hana Krismawati.
Also read : National Awakening in the Era of Identity Politics and Social Media
They took the initiative to contribute materially or make an application to track people under surveillance, create content against COVID-19 hoax, conduct research on COVID-19 and make a data platform.
In the conversation with the eight people, on Monday and Tuesday (18-19 / 5), the keywords "mutual cooperation", "delivery", "empathy", "anxiety", and "contribution" appeared when they talked about their activities. The words are related to one another.
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Imam Prasodjo
University of Indonesia sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo believes that efforts to break the COVID-19 chain conducted by various segments must be maintained and coordinated under an integrated movement. The Indonesian people who come from various tribes, religions, races and groups should be able to work together, not keeping distance from one another.
Imam warned that National Awakening Day could be an opportunity to remove the division due to political differences. The COVID-19 outbreak can be used as the medium for joint action to strengthen national solidarity.
Sri Margana, a lecturer in history at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, said the social solidarity of diverse individuals was in line with the spirit of national revival. This is a great capital for the Indonesian people to get out of the crisis, because it shows that national awareness still exists and grows in times of crisis.
Empathy
Hana Krisnawati
Concern about the transmission of COVID-19 in the isolated area of Papua encourages Hana to conduct COVID-10 testing every day. Being one of the researchers at the Papua Health Research and Development Agency, she had to work hard to quickly complete all sample examinations. "Nearly twelve hours every day we work so that all the samples can be examined. All the new samples should be examined at the end of the day," she said.
The examination of swab samples from COVID-19 suspects must be completed quickly so that the results can be immediately distributed to patients and healthcare workers. If the results can be obtained quickly, the patients will be able to receive treatment quickly.
Ngademin Agung Firmansyah, chairperson of the Indonesian Disaster Awareness Movement Foundation (Graisena).
Meanwhile, Agung along with volunteers at the Indonesian Disaster Awareness Movement Foundation has created a program to help the economy of the families of COVID-19 patients, to provide assistance to medical personnel, such as personal protective equipment and vitamins. Another program is to provide staple food to residents living in the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, especially in Greater Jakarta. Agung and his friends receive public donations.
"Every day we see the kindness of citizens who participate in the program. It gives us optimism," said Agung. In channeling the aid, he added, the foundation was assisted by volunteers from various professional backgrounds, groups and organizations. They have the same passion, which is to help others.
Ahmad Alghozi Ramadhant
Alghozi and his three friends have also created an application to track the location of suspected virus carriers out of concern over the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. The name of the application is Fight Covid-19, which was initially used by the provincial government of Bangka Belitung to track the movement of people who have just come from the Covid-19 epicenter to Bangka Belitung. All people who visit Bangka Belitung are asked to register through the Fight Covid-19 application.
Meanwhile, Ariyo Zidni, a child storyteller and story writer, has made his own contribution. He tries to comfort children so they are not overwhelmed by fear of COVID-19. He made a fairytale with the theme of coronavirus that could describe the outbreak to children. Ariyo uploaded it to YouTube and Instagram.
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Indonesian storyteller Ario Zidni weaves a tale for children at the 2018 Awicarita Festival in Pinus Asri Forest, Imogiri, Bantul, Yogyakarta, on Sept. 11, 2018. Fairy tales can be used as a form of character education for children.
"I think that if I can do something good and useful, yes, it will be better than worrying about negative things and doing nothing," he said.
Out of concern about the circulation of unreliable information and hoaxes about COVID-19, Elina, Irma, and Novi help the public fight against COVID-19 with data and narration.
Novi Kurnia, coordinator of the Digital Literacy Activists Network (Japelidi).
Novi creates digital content and graphic videos against hoaxes with the Digital Literacy Activists Network (Japelidi) group, which comprises lecturers in 80 universities in Indonesia. In total there are 16 topics, 65 digital posters, and two graphic videos that have been created and distributed through social media.
The content includes guidelines to protect the people from COVID-19, the appeal for people not to travel to their hometown during Idul Fitri and critical attitude against hoaxes. The guidelines on how to protect oneself from COVID-19 is translated into 43 regional languages.
"We feel what the public feel. We are fortunate to have friends and networks. We want to serve the community and want to be a solution to the existing problems," said Novi.
Irma Hidayana, MPH, PhD, founder of Laporcovid19.org.
Irma and the volunteers of the Laporcovid19.org collected data based on citizen reports. Not only related to the victims who died, residents were also invited to report the vulnerability of diseases, social assistance, and violations of large-scale social restrictions. The volunteers also visualized the COVID-19 data.
"Transparency of key information builds public trust so that they have the same awareness in dealing with the outbreak. The data collected, in addition to advocacy and public education, can also be used as materials for scientific studies," she said.
Data-based policy
Erlina Ciptadi
Together with her friends, Elina initiated kawalcovid19.id to provide accurate information related to COVID-19 in the hope that the community has a basis of accurate and reliable information regarding the actual situation. That way, they are better able to protect themselves and those around them from COVID-19 transmission.
"I hope from the experience of dealing with COVID-19, the government can also learn how to use data as the basis for policy making, and also ask a qualified expert because Indonesia never lacks experts," Elina said.
Iqbal, as an epidemiologist, in addition to researching to gain an understanding of the spread of COVID-19, was also involved in collecting data, providing analysis and recommendations to local governments who were willing to collaborate.
Iqbal Elyasar, PhD holder and epidemiologist, researcher of the Eikman Oxford Clinical Research Unit
He also expressed his views to the public through the mass media. An aware public, he said, was very important in dealing with the virus. Iqbal hopes that epidemiology can be maximally used as a guide to face COVID-19.
In the midst of solidarity, many individuals show indifferent behavior and don\'t care about the physical distancing policy, disappointing other people. This has led to the rise of hashtag #TerserahIndonesia (UpToYouIndonesia) which became quite popular on social media.
The hashtag #TerserahIndonesia firstly arose from the tweets of medical staff who were disappointed to see large crowds, which have the potential to increase Covid-19 transmission. Then, through the hashtags, there is growing criticism against central and regional government, especially related to their inability to prevent crowds despite the social restrictions.
Gadjah Mada University sociologist and executive director of the Youth Studies Center (Yousure) Oki Rahadianto Sutopo said, if not addressed, this would lead to indifferent behavior in society. Moreover, at this time the spirit to work together in order to survive is quite necessary. (BOW/NAD/AIK/TAN/SKA/DIV)
