The event symbolically kick-started a pilot project to protect people with preexisting diseases that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Desa Jaga Komorbid, which translates loosely to “Village Taking Care of People with Comorbidity”, is a program under Central Java’s Jogo Tonggo (Taking Care of Your Neighbor) initiative.

Madi is one of many elderly people in his village identified as belonging to a high-risk group for COVID-19, because Madi, who works as a parking attendant, has developed stomach ulcers, gout and a cold allergy in recent years.

In addition, his job as a parking attendant exposes him to greater risk of contracting COVID-19, because of his interaction with many people on a daily basis. "After every two or three times I receive money, I wash my hands, especially if I meet someone who seems unwell," said Madi.

Achmad likened the virus to an executioner who can kill anyone. "This is like an executioner. We have to protect people with comorbidities, not only the elderly, but also those who are still young but have comorbidities," said Achmad, adding that most COVID-19 deaths were seen in patients with comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma or tuberculosis.

Based on Banyumas administration data from Oct. 19, 19 people in the regency have died of COVID-19.

Therefore, to facilitate supervision, the Banyumas administration came up with the idea of using a bracelet like the one Madi wears for all high-risk groups of people as a marker.

Officers will periodically give the bracelet-wearers education and administer vitamins from health centers. Other regional administration offices will be involved in monitoring the high-risk group.

Achmad also asked families to protect the elderly at home by always maintaining cleanliness.

“Every time you leave the house, you have to wash your hands thoroughly [upon returning]. We have to reduce the death of people with comorbidity. Let us not let anyone die from COVID-19 anymore," said Achmad.

Achmad said all data on the elderly and people at risk has been inputted to the Jiwong Jiga application, an acronym for siji wong siji jaga (one person, one guard).

This application was made specifically to register elderly people who are at risk of being exposed to COVID-19, complete with names and addresses.

Overall, there are 77,095 elderly people in Banyumas, 6,840 of whom are people with comorbidity putting them at mild risk, while 9,183 are at moderate risk due to comorbidity and 272 are at high risk. The rest are elderly without comorbidity. 

"I will lead it myself. I made a small team to report to me. We only have a short time left, in March vaccines may have arrived, they are the priority," said Achmad.

Banyumas Health Agency head Sadiyanto revealed that most of the 19 people who had died of COVID-19 were elderly, but some were still young. "All of them, however, had comorbidities. It’s true that comorbidity makes contracting COVID-19 very risky," said Sadiyanto.

Apart from the elderly and people with comorbidities, Sadiyanto said that he would also pay special attention to pregnant women. "There are about 11,600 elderly people who are included in the Chronic Disease Management Program [Prolanis] and around 5,000 pregnant women. Prolanis is a routine effort, now we have added education on the prevention of COVID-19," said Sadiyanto. (iwa)

 

Editor’s note: This article is part of a public campaign by the COVID-19 task force to raise people’s awareness about the pandemic.