Yogyakarta – Friday, March 28th 2020. Photos of paramedics holding papers that read “You stay home for us, we keep working for you” became viral on social media in recent weeks. The reason is, after it was first discovered on December 27th 2019 in Wuhan-PRC, the Covid-19 case spread rapidly to various countries in the world including Indonesia. The disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic. The growth in the number of cases allegedly carried by bats and anteater has entered an exponential phase with the number of cases reaching 600,863 globally and 1,046 cases in Indonesia.
Paramedics are now at the forefront, especially in providing curative services (treating) patients with suspected corona. But no doubt, global panic is inevitable in Indonesia after the government established social distancing and the terms work and study at home. The term panic buying is not only targeted at food, but also the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as medical masks, gloves, coverall jumpsuit, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, multivitamins, to Google glasses/face shield. PPE supplies are becoming scarce even for hospital needs, as a result, paramedics use makeshift equipment such as raincoats and plastic bags to protect themselves. So that many medical personnel who died in the fight against corona. As of March 27th, 2020, there were 10 doctors killed and six others were positive due to new coronavirus infection.
Departing from these concerns, the Managing Coordinator of Master Science and Doctoral Program, the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (MD FEB UGM), Nurul Indarti, Sivilokonom, Cand Merc, Ph.D., took the initiative to create a DIY (do it yourself) face shield for paramedics in Yogyakarta. In collaboration with Prof. Fathul Wahid, M.Sc., Ph.D., her husband, and children, the first 40 face shields that have been made are distributed for paramedics at the several hospitals: JIH Hospital. PDHI Hospital, and UII Hospital. The Face shields were not only distributed to hospitals level, but have also been used by paramedics at Ngemplak 1 Public Health Center in Sleman, Most Dental Dental Clinic, and Tanjung Banyumas Primary Clinic. The making of the face shield continues because of the high PPE demand for paramedics. 160 face shields have been distributed until March 28th 2020.
On the occasion of an online interview, the graduate of Universitatis Groninganae said, “I have predicted the number of PPE needs from one of the Whatsapp groups, but the thing is I was really satisfied and touched because the products we made from home could be used by paramedics”. In the midst of busy teaching online and carrying out strategic management of the MD FEB UGM Program, the recipient of the writing book Grant from the Indonesia Ministry of Law and Human Rights in 2018, has a significant impact on society as a form of implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education “Community Service”.
The pandemic that has become a global scourge that forces people to do social distancing will not prevent us from continuing to share and strengthen each other. (RP)
#ProudToBeMD #WeCan #WeAreStrong
