VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A coalition of vaccine volunteers called Kawan Vaksin, which was set up by the Indonesian Doctors' Association (IDI) in 34 Indonesian provinces, says its members are ready to be the first to get COVID-19 vaccine shots, together with President Joko Widodo.

Dr. Iswanto Idji, the National Coordinator of Kawan Vaksin, here on Sunday said that the coalition was formed in various regions to help make the implementation of health protocols successful and to respond to the low literacy of the public towards vaccines as many people believed in hoaxes.

"We think we could help the nation to fight the pandemic. Vaccine is one of the government's efforts to expedite eradication of the COVID-19 pandemic, so that we can soon restore all dimensions of people's lives. Kawan Vaksin is present in the regions to encourage literacy and community participation in the vaccination program," he said.

Iswanto Idji also explained that in order to convince the public about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, members of Kawan Vaksin at the central and regional levels are willing to be the first ones to be vaccinated.

This will show to the public that vaccination is safe and has no side effects, according to him.

Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) Hasto Wardoyo said he would be ready to work with Kawan Vaksin at the grassroots level to support vaccination program to break the chain of the COVID-19 spread.

"We have multi-level networking comprising 1.2 million cadres and 23,400 BKKBN extension officers, both civil servants and non-civil servants who can work together with Kawan Vaksin in delivering vaccines. and change people's behavior,” he said.

Earlier, Daeng Faqih, IDI Executive Chairman, said that IDI members are ready to become first recipients of vaccine shots.

He also called on the Indonesian people to not hesitate to join the vaccination program because the vaccine quality assurance process and procedures carried out by the BPOM (Food and Drug Supervisory Board) are good. (antaranews)

Acting Minister of Social Affairs Muhadjir Effendy has said the government has conducted various efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected Indonesia since the end of February 2020.

"This is our common duty and requires hard work from every element of the nation, especially by implementing the 3M movement, namely wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining distance," Muhadjir Effendy said while delivering his remarks on the commemoration of National Social Solidarity Day (HKSN) here on Saturday.

He called on every element of the nation to comply with health protocols and to stay at home, except for urgent needs.

He lauded the theme of the 2020 HKSN commemoration, namely 'Social Solidarity Against COVID-19' as it is very timely.

He called for the public concern and solidarity amid the COVID-19 pandemic because the COVID-19 handling is not only the responsibility of the government but every stakeholder of the nation.

Following the commemoration of the 2020 HKSN, the Minister of Social Affairs visited the Tumou Tou Netra Disability Center in Manado City.

The Minister presented Rp317,175 millions in funds for Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) to alumni beneficiaries and students.

In the meantime, Indonesia on Friday (Dec 18) reported 6,689 fresh COVID-19 cases over a 24-hour period, which brought the total case tally to 650,197 since the country announced its first infections on March 2, 2020. As per data from the National Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, the number of recoveries increased by 5,016 in the 24-hour period, taking the total number of patients recovering from the virus to 531,995.

The country also reported 124 fatalities across the nation, which brought the death toll to 19,514.

The health authorities examined specimens of 67,678 people, bringing the cumulative number of specimens examined so far to 6,674,683.

In general, the total number of suspected cases recorded per day stood at 62,717. (antaranews)

Indonesia's maritime conservation areas have reached 23.91 million hectares in 201 regions, according to the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP).

"In an effort to reach the target of 23.8 million hectares of maritime conservation area in 2020, KKP has established five Regional Maritime Conservation in West Kalimantan that covered a total area of 644,674 hectares," acting Director General of Marine Spatial Management of the ministry Tb Haeru Rahayu said in a statement here on Sunday.

The maritime conservation area is expected to become a key instrument in fishery resources management and bring positive impact to the ecosystem as well as the coastal community's life, he said.

The five new regional maritime conservation areas (KKPD) are Kubu Raya and North Kayong conservation area, KKPD Randayan Island, KKPD Kubu Raya, KKPD Kendawangan, and KKPD Paloh.

The authority to manage the five conservation areas would be held by the West Kalimantan Governor.

Head of the Regional Marine and Coastal Resources Management (BPSPL) of Pontianak Getreda M Hehanussa said, the agency in 2019 worked closely with the West Kalimantan's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office in the zoning and management planning of the maritime conservation areas.

According to Hehanussa, the most important element in the zoning and management planning is identification and determination of conservation target.

"The establishment of the Maritime, Coastal and Small Islands Conservation Area in West Kalimantan is expected to improve the areas' management to reach the goals of conservation that include protection, preservation, and utilization for people's welfare in West Kalimantan and the sustainability of marine and fisheries resources," Hehanussa said.

Indonesia has targeted to establish 32,5 million hectares of maritime conservation area by 2030 or some 10 percent of the country's total maritime area.

Hehanussa said, of the total 201 areas, 88 of them have been approved by the ministry while 113 others are reserved as conservation area. (antaranews)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the Patimban Port in Subang District, West Java should be used to increase export of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSME) products, as well as agricultural and other creative industry products, in addition to automotive.

"The Patimban Port must also boost export of other products to foment MSME's economy, agricultural sector, creative industry and other products, hence they can compete in global market," Jokowi said at the soft launching of the port held virtually from the Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java on Sunday.

The Patimban Port would have a large capacity for export of automotive products to support the performance of manufacturing industry, including automotive industry, in the neighboring districts of Bekasi, Karawang and Purwakarta.

However, the President hoped that the port would also boost export of other products.

Jokowi has instructed his aides and regional leaders to work jointly with the MSME, cooperative units and private sector to optimize utilization of infrastructure in Patimban Port.

The port should be linked with industries and economy in West Java to promote the growth of new economic centers.

"(Patimban) provides fast services in logistic and will make our export more efficient, more competitive in the global market," Jokowi added.

Patimban Port is situated between Kertajati Airport in West Java and industrial zones in Bekasi, Karawang and Purwakarta. The port is expected to support the overloaded Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta and reduced logistic transportation congestion that created heavy traffic jam at Jakarta-Bekasi road.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said Patimban Port operation would be synergized with the Tanjung Priok Port in line with to the president's direction, to increase the time efficiency and national logistical cost.

Sumadi said, the port has commenced operation with initial export of 140 units of cars to Brunei Darussalam aboard PT Toyofuji's Suzuka Express ship. (antaranews)