Tzu Chi's Assistance Awaken the Spirit of RSUD Bogor Medical Team

Director of RSUD Bogor Ilham Chaidir with his management, receiving medical assistance from Tzu Chi Indonesia on Saturday, 21 March 2020. 

The medical needs assistance from Tzu Chi Indonesia ignited the enthusiasm of the RSUD Bogor Hospital medical team who had to stand by 24 hours in handling the Covid-19 outbreak. This was revealed by the Managing Director of RSUD Bogor Ilham Chaidir when receiving Tzu Chi’s medical assistance 50 pieces of isolation suit (PPE) and 4000 masks on Saturday, 21 March 2020.

"We were touched with help from the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation and it turns out we are not standing alone in dealing with this, we have the support," said Director of RSUD Bogor Ilham Chaidir.

Ilham Chaidir admitted that the availability of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) owned by RSUD Bogor was very minimal because initially the hospital was not appointed by the government as a COvid-19 referral hospital. As of 17 March 2020, a Governor Decree was issued stating that RSUD Bogor was one of the referral hospitals for handling Covid-19 patients.

Ilham Chaidir said the medical assistance provided by Tzu Chi Indonesia is very helpful due to the minimum and limited number of personal protective equipment that RSUD Bogor has. 

"At that time, we ordered PPE right away but we only got 22 on the market, we lost the goods. Since we were only appointed on 17 March 2020. We have the money but we can’t find the goods. We have difficulties," Chaidir added.

Therefore, he added, this assistance given by Tzu Chi really helped, which from the management side, he had to protect the staff from being infected. Since Friday, 20 March 2020, Bogor has declared an Extraordinary Event (KLB) of the Covid-19 virus, with three positive patients, one of which is the Mayor of Bogor Arya Bima. The three were then treated in an isolation room in RSUD Bogor with close monitoring.

Ahad Vidyaloka, a Tzu Chi volunteer who handed over the aid, explained that the Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation was willing to contribute to providing assistance to medical staff at the forefront in accelerating the handling of the coronavirus.

"As long as they are protected, they can serve the community," he said.

Tzu Chi also handed in some medical assistance to Bhayangkara Hospital in Bogor of 100 isolation suits or 10000 masks.

On the same day, Saturday, 21 March 2020, Tzu Chi also provided medical assistance to the Bhayangkara Hospital of 100 pieces of PPE or isolation clothing and 10000 masks.

"It is very useful and we really need it, especially masks and isolation clothes, because there is a scarcity outside. We have ordered but they haven’t arrived yet, and it turns out we first get these masks and protective clothing from Tzu Chi. We thank the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation very much for your help," said the Head of the Bhayangkara  Hospital, Rini Afrianti.

The Bhayangkara Hospital has not yet received patients indicated with Covid-19, but it has prepared anticipatory measures such as isolation rooms both in the ER and inpatient treatment.

Editor: Hadi Pranoto