VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Political Communication Observer from Pelita Harapan University (UPH), Emrus Sihombing, assessed that in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia, health and the economy could run simultaneously.

"Simultaneous health management with economic activity is the right choice for Indonesia's current socio-economic conditions. Do not confuse it with a country that has a small area and extraordinary foreign exchange reserves. But the hot point of health promotion is communication in handling the Covid-19 case," Emrus said on Thursday.

The choice to solve health and economic problems could not be carried out substantially, in fact, it had the potential to create new social problems, he said.

The main point of communication, he said, was to promote health promotion communication in handling the Covid-19 case in a massive, structured, systematic, creative, innovative, and sustainable national level down to the family level, so that people already have awareness, attitudes, and behaviors that are strictly adhering to all health protocols.

In addition, he explained, the public fully understands the fatal risks to themselves and their family members, when they are negligent or careless for a moment it is not in line with health protocols.

Emrus said health communication for handling COVID-19 must be in hotspot orbit, only then will health and economy be carried out simultaneously. The COVID-19 cases in the country, he added, Indonesia does not have to choose whether to solve health or economic problems.

"As a phenomenon faced by the community regarding the Covid-19 case, there are still other options, which in my opinion are better, namely health handling is carried out simultaneously with the economic activity in the community, of course in a health promotion communication room handling the Covid-19 case," he concluded. (RRI)