By: Deka Prawira ) *
The government continues to accelerate the work of the Hospital (RS) for infectious diseases in Galang Island, Batam, Riau Islands , especially in the middle of the Corona Virus Pandemic . The community also appreciates the development of the Hospital which is expected to be able to operate immediately.
President Jokowi visited a hospital for infectious diseases on Galang Island, Batam, Riau Islands on Wednesday ( 1/04). On this occasion, the President instructed that the hospital be operational immediately next week. Jokowi said, beforehand, the operation of Corona Hospital was somewhat delayed from the specified time. That was due to the obstruction of the distribution of incoming material due to weather constraints.
The Government’s initiative to build a Hospital (RS) in Pulang Galang, Batam deserves a thumbs up. F asilitas utilizes the former location of shelters or refugee camps Vietnam. This complex was previously used from 1979 to 1996 on Galang Island.
Galang Island itself has an area of approximately 250 ha. Historically, 80 hectares of this island were taken from the Vietnamese refugee camp which holds 250,000 people by UNHCR. In this Vietnamese village there are old churches, temples, refugee barracks, prisons, to sleeping Buddhas, then a former hospital building.
Ru mah specific hospital infectious diseases will have a carrying capacity of 1,000 beds. A total of 340 beds will be completed in the first stage. While the other 640 will be completed in the second stage.
The building was built in two stories, consisting of 30 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and 20 Non ICU beds with equipment in accordance with applicable standards. In addition, around the main facilities will also be equipped with sports facilities, green open spaces and solid waste treatment facilities with special incinerators, as well as Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP).
For solid waste incinerators, he will work with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. He said, the former hospital building at the location could still be used.
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said, the structure of the former camp is still good, the wall with asbestos double cover is still strong, only the ceiling and weathered wooden frames need to be replaced. The point can still be used for supporters such as administrative space, doctors, medical personnel, kitchens and laundry.
He said, the construction budget for all health facilities and infrastructure was carried out through joint operations (KSO) between PT. Wijaya Karya (Persero) and PT Waskita with the Construction Management Consultant of PT. Virama Karya.
Minister Basuki further said that to provide raw water, four alternative water reservoirs had been prepared, namely the empty sag reservoir with a discharge of 232 liters / second within 16 km, the Vietnam camp reservoir (0.11 liter / sec) within 1.6 km, the Setotok reservoir (1.5 liters / sec) is 35 km away, and the Gong cell reservoir (400 liters / sec) is 4.1 km away.
To support the observation and isolation facilities, his party has built a water treatment plant (WTP) with a capacity of 5 liters / second sourced from a hollowed out reservoir.
He said he would also increase access to and out of the island by building helipad and preparing the jetty arrangement at the Port of Galang Island which is managed by the UPT of the Batam City Government Transportation Agency.
The government’s effort certainly deserves to be appreciated, the corona hospital in Batam, the plan is in addition to dealing with corona virus positive patients, this health service will also be used to prevent the virus.
The government also plans that the hospital building will be built to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), where there are schemes and structures governed by WHO concerning hospital handling outbreaks such as covid-19.
The success in controlling this disease lies in how to break the chain of transmission by isolating positive cases. The government’s step now is not merely to carry out treatment protocols for sufferers.
Previously, the medical equipment unit for Corona Special Hospital had arrived at Hang Nadim Airport, Batam, Riau Islands. A number of medical devices transported by the Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft from Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport arrived in Batam and were immediately taken to Corona Special Hospital (COVID-19) on Galang Island.
On the same occasion, a simulation of transferring COVID-19 patients from the Hercules C-130 aircraft was also carried out to the same hospital.
Corona Special Hospital on Galang Island, especially at EX Camp Vietnam, is estimated to be able to accommodate up to 1,000 patients.
Of course this step should be appreciated, this is evidence that with the existing limitations, the government continues to strive in dealing with the corona or covid-19 virus pandemic in Indonesia.
) * The author is a social political observer , active in the Institute for Strategic Information Studies (LSISI)