Working together in Indonesia – what COVID-19 taught us as a community
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It all started when I received a phone call from a colleague informing me that one student under our ministry had tested positive for COVID-19. Inevitably, my mind rushed to two weeks earlier when she was the worship leader at a student gathering with approximately 180 students attending. Some of them would have been in close contact with her during the event.
The very next day, one of my fellow staff-workers texted me saying that he had fever and cough. Later, he told me that the pulmonologist said his chest X-ray showed pneumonia with typical features of COVID-19 and recommended him to take a PCR test. Anxiety rose, given that he had attended the same student gathering and led a biweekly staff-meeting. Had he transmitted the virus to others?
Suddenly, COVID-19 was within striking distance. Lots of questions juggled inside me: What should we do? What should we say? How about the students? How about our colleagues in the office? What about our ministry? How should we handle this? How should we prepare ourselves during this? The situation felt overwhelming.
Racing against time, one of our graduates took the initiative to organize a COVID-19 Task Force within Perkantas (the IFES movement in Indonesia). He managed to communicate with several medical graduates within CMDF Indonesia to join the team (in Indonesia, CMDF Indonesia is part of FES).
The team initially consisted of two divisions – surveillance and case management – one division to handle the COVID-19 cases and one to manage contact tracing. Two more divisions – logistics and fundraising – were added because we realised a need for logistical (personal protective equipment) and financial support. At the time of writing we have had these two cases and 98 people under surveillance.
The Surveillance Team is responsible for contact tracing: collecting phone numbers, creating a WhatsApp group and explaining the situation. They carry out daily monitoring of their subjects’ health status, closely follow up those who have symptoms and encourage self-isolation to limit the spread. In collaboration with the Case Management Team, they carry out some necessary interventions, such as laboratory tests and facilitate hospital admission if their condition declines.
The Case Management Team facilitates diagnostic services for presumptive cases and hospitalization for patients under monitoring who need it. They arrange swab tests for those with symptoms and close contacts. They are also discussing the best strategies to prepare for the peak period (end of April) and create triage criteria.
The Logistics Team provides PPE for those who are affected within our ministry network. We also took a further step by providing those medical professionals on the front line with surgical masks, respirator masks (N95/FFP2/KN95), hand sanitizer, gloves and other medical supplies. The team networked with other organizations and made lists of distributors/manufacturers of medical devices.
The Fundraising Team raises funds by appealing to graduate members and communicates with the other teams about needs and provides financial reports to donors.
After working together for four weeks, the Lord has graciously blessed us with great teamwork and resources. The team now has distributed medical logistics, mostly PPE, to help around 200 doctors and dentists all over Indonesia.
Although the priority is still CMDFI doctors, a few of those helped are non-Christians. We think that this is very important as we have already seen 30 deaths among Indonesian doctors and dentists due to COVID-19. We are so grateful to see our doctors being blessed by this small but significant help.
We are in the middle of battling the new virus together as a community. Not all members have a medical background, but we are learning to support one another and give the very best we can.
The team is cross-generational, which enhances the fellowship. It resonates with Paul’s appeal to the Galatians that they ought to:
‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
No cure or vaccine has yet been found to stop this pandemic. Our best strategy is to flatten the curve to slow down the pace of spread through practising hand and respiratory hygiene and social distancing: working from home, reducing mass/social gatherings, limiting travel and self-isolation.
Social distancing is challenging to Christians who place heavy emphasis on fellowship and building relationships. However, this team demonstrates that, despite all the barriers, we can still carry each other’s burdens and ease others’ pain. For such a time as this, we are called to share God’s love and be there for one another.
The two cases we served eventually tested negative for COVID-19 and almost all of their contacts showed no symptoms after 14 days observation. All the team rejoiced. God has been so gracious to us by providing all that we need. We know that he will take care of us and his grace will see us through this pandemic. God is with us!
The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8
By Deve L Tampubolon, a staff member of Perkantas (Indonesia)
Ohh praise God