Gov’t Provides Social Assistances, Incentives, Vaccination to Handle Pandemic

President Jokowi attends the 2021 Kompas100 CEO Forum, Thursday (21/1), at the State Palace, Jakarta. (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat/Lukas)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ensured that social assistance programs and other incentives for people affected by COVID-19 pandemic, including micro, small, and medium businesses, will be carried on in 2021.

“The programs are part of the Government’s efforts to address short-term impact of the pandemic,” President Jokowi said in his key note speech at the 2021 Kompas100 CEO Forum, held virtually at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (21/1).

The Government also provides Pre-employment Card to those suffered from layoffs. All programs are aimed at maintaining people’s purchasing power and easing people’s burden during pandemic.

Regarding health sector, the President affirmed the importance of adhering to health protocols as the Government’s main short-term strategy to curb the pandemic.

“You (the CEO) need to tell your employees on the importance of staying disciplined in adhering to health protocols. Governors, regents, mayors, heads of sub-districts, villages, and neighboring units must also do the same. Do wear mask, maintain safe distance, and frequently wash hands,” he firmly said.

Central Government and regional governments, he added, will support the effort by optimizing testing, tracing, and treatment of COVID-19 cases. The Government also has started free vaccination program batch 1 that prioritizes medical workers throughout the country. Moreover, Indonesia has considerable experience of managing vaccination programs for years.

“We have a lot of resources; 30 thousand vaccinators, around 10 thousand community health centers (Puskesmas), and more than 3,000 hospitals. For years, our community health centers have been carrying out immunization program for children,” he added. (FID/BPMI/UN) (RAS/MMB)