JAKARTA (UCAN): “We pray together for our fellow fighters for humanity … who have died of Covid-19,” Daeng M. Faqih, Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) chairperson said at the start an online memorial service streamed over YouTube on September 2.
The event, jointly organised by the IDI and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), brought together religious leaders, state officials and medical workers in Indonesia to pray for at least 170 doctors and nurses who died fighting the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in the country.
According to the IDI, at least 104 doctors, nine dentists and 70 nurses have died from the coronavirus since the first two Indonesian cases were detected in March.
Of them, 22 doctors were based in Jakarta, 28 in East Java province, 18 were from North Sumatra province and the rest from other provinces.
“We hope what they have fought for inspires us to keep our commitment to serving humanity, because this is the oath we gave when we chose to become medical workers,” Faqih said, adding that he hoped the event would encourage everyone in Indonesia to work together to overcome the pandemic.
Representing the Catholic community was Father Dismas Valens Salettia, who expressed his gratitude to medical workers in a poem.
“Thank you for showing us during this difficult situation the kindness of God and the mercy of God,” Father Salettia said.
“You have become angels in this world which is full of fear and anxiety. You have sacrificed yourselves for us and given us the hope that many still care for each other,” he said.
Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, a Muslim cleric from Tabuireng Islamic Boarding School in East Java’s Jombang district, led the prayer service.
“We pray to you, Allah, that you will rid this pandemic from the earth. Heal our brothers and sisters who are receiving treatment, and bless them and their families,” he said.
“Allah, our God, protect our medical workers who work day and night to serve those in need. Give them the strength and the gift of health to do their noble work.”
Also joining the event were several cabinet ministers, including Muhadjir Effendy, the coordinating human development and culture minister.
“The government realises that doctors and other medical workers are the most prone group to the Covid-19 pandemic and, therefore, have tried hard to provide everything needed to protect them from the disease,” Effendy said.
Felix Gunawan, director of the Association of Voluntary Health Services of Indonesia, a Catholic group, lamented the fact that the disease has killed so many health workers.
“Doctors face a dilemma. They have no other choice but to serve Covid-19 patients and even asymptomatic individuals,” he said, adding that “doctors will continue to face the deadly risk if Covid-19 continues to spread” in the country.
As of September 6, Indonesia had recorded 190,665 Covid-19 cases and 7,940 deaths.
