TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta is still struggling to recruit volunteers from final year university students to be assigned as staffers at the Covid-19 emergency hospitals. The special region’s Health Agency Head, Pembajun Setyaningastutie, said recruiting volunteers amid the current worsening pandemic situation was challenging.

“We are targeting 200 student volunteers, but to date, only 33 people have signed up. The recruitment process is still afoot,” said Pembajun on Thursday, July 15.

She acknowledged that working as a volunteer is a heart’s calling. “This is a volunteer duty, and there is no coercion at all, so if the student's family objected to their child joining the coronavirus handling, we indeed respect that decision,” Pembajun remarked.

She said the final year medical student will only be tasked to treat Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms. Their work will be appreciated in various fashions. For example, it will be included in the semester credit system (SKS) for field practice. “We will also fulfill their rights, but this must not be called an incentive,” Pembajun explained.

The Yogyakarta administration is also coordinating with the central government to prepare three locations for Covid-19 emergency hospitals. They are the ASN BBWS housing complex, student dormitories at Yogyakarta State University (UNY), and Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

Read: Govt Turns to Volunteers to Deal with Indonesia's Health Workers Shortage

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)