Human Development Coordinating Minister Inspects Traditional Markets in W. Java

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy inspects the readiness in the implementation of health protocols in Pasar Sederhana, Bandung, West Java Province, Saturday (20/6). (Photo by: Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture).

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy on Saturday (20/6) began his working visit to Bandung to inspect the readiness in the implementation of the new normal standard procedures.

Upon arrival in the city, the Minister visited Hasan Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) in Bandung, the largest hospital in West Java Province.

Muhadjir expressed appreciation to West Java Province Administration for taking systematic measures as well as the Hasan Sadikin Hospital in handling COVID-19 so that the number of confirmed cases in West Java Province continues to decline.

“West Java Province is currently in good condition. A number of regions have changed its alert status to orange, some regions are still with yellow status, and some regions also have moved its disease outbreak response down to green,” Muhadjir said after inspecting the Hasan Sadikin Hospital.

On convalescent plasma treatment conducted at the Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Muhadjir said that it is an experimental treatment using blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients. The treatment is an innovative service to accelerate patients’ recovery that is developed in more than 20 hospitals across the country.

Based on the report of Hasan Sadikin Hospital President Director Nina Susana Dewi and the hospital’s convalescent plasma research team, the convalescent plasma therapy has proven effective in healing COVID-19 patients.

According to Muhadjir, the Government will support the convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 treatment.

“Previously, Minister of Health said that he will ensure the implementation of convalescent plasma treatment. The treatment is now recommended by Ministry of Health to be used for COVID-19 patients across the country,” Muhadjir said.

After inspecting the Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Muhadjir visited PT. Bio Farma and Avian Flu Laboratory Building. PT. Bio Farma has developed several medicines for COVID-19, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits.

According to President Director of state-owned vaccine producer PT Bio Farma Honesti Basyir, Bio Farma has succeeded in producing 50 thousand PCR kits every week. Muhadjir said the Government will also support Bio Farma to produce more test kits to meet domestic demand.

“Minister of Health has instructed to produce PCR test kits from Bio Farma to fulfill domestic needs in the near future. Therefore, we have set a target to produce 2 million PCR test kits in a month. If 2 million PCR test kits can be produced, then we can fulfill domestic needs,” he said.

In order to speed up the production process, Muhadjir continued, the Government will provide the Avian Flu laboratory building to PT. Bio Farma for the production of COVID-19 vaccines and PCR test kits.

“If necessary, Ministry of Health will grant the building to Bio Farma to accelerate the production of our PCR test kits since we are no longer targeting imported medical devices to fulfill domestic needs. If we have sufficient medical devices, we can immediately export them,” Muhadjir added.

On that occasion, Muhadjir has ensured health protocols implemented in Pasar Sederhana, Bandung, West Java Province. According to him, health service standards and protocols in the market have been obeyed by market managers, sellers, and visitors.

However, he added, maintaining a safe distance between sellers and buyers still becomes a problem in traditional markets. Muhadjir requested that all parties in the market comply with health protocols in the market, including keeping a distance. This should be carried out to prevent the transmission.

“Therefore, I ask for the cooperation from regional government parties, the sellers’ management and their assistants, as well as visitors. I hope you can comply with the protocol, considering that it can be a tool or basis to ensure that all traditional market activities can operate as we expect,” the Minister concluded. (PR of Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Culture/EN)

 Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: Yuyu Mulyani