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Delta variant overwhelms Indonesia’s beleaguered Puskesmas
Officials of community health centers (Puskesmas) have reported being overwhelmed by the current wave of COVID-19, with many falling sick and losing their lives to the virus.
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A health worker removes a "closed" sign from the door of the Baluase community health center (Puskesmas) in Sigi, Central Sulawesi on July 13, 2021. The health center reopened after being closed for a week due to 12 health workers testing positive for COVID-19. (Antara/Basri Marzuki)
O
n the frontline of Indonesia’s battle against the Delta variant-fueled surge in coronavirus cases are around 10,000 community health centers (Puskesmas), that are woefully understaffed and underequipped to cope with the worst health crisis to ever hit the country, a local health think tank has warned.
Puskesmas officials, who are tasked with providing the first response to the virus transmission at the community level, have reported being overwhelmed by the current wave of infection, with many falling sick and losing their lives to the virus.
"Several of our personnel were in isolation. We can't deny that we are overwhelmed, but we are trying our best to make everything work properly," Aryanti Prima, a doctor at the Mampang Prapatan Puskesmas, South Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The center has 220 health workers, a relatively big number compared to many other Puskesmas in the regions — but even it has struggled to keep its services running properly.
Jakarta has seen record numbers of daily cases in recent weeks with the Mampang Prapatan Puskesmas reporting 513 new infections between July 11 and 14 alone.
Prima said she and her colleagues had faced difficulties getting hospital referrals for local residents as the city’s healthcare system is overstretched. They have had no choice but to make the tough decisions of who would be referred to hospitals and who should make do with self-treatment at home — even though they are fully aware that not everyone can afford an oximeter or thermometer, let alone oxygen tanks.
Read also: 'Puskesmas' move up to COVID-19 front lines amid overburdened health system
