UNAIR NEWS – On March 6, 2020, the government has released Health Protocol for Covid-19 Management. The health protocol was created to facilitate the public in accessing health services.
According to Prof. Dra. Myrtati Dyah Artaria, MA., Ph.D, UNAIR Anthropology lecturer and professor, like other aspects of life, that confusion in accessing health services often occurs, especially for persons with disabilities. This is partly because most elements of society do not yet understand the different needs of disable people.
“Depending on the type of disability. Each has its specialty, “said Prof. Myrta related to the needs of disabled people in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prof. Myrta revealed, in this Covid-19 pandemic, special health protocols might not yet need to be done. But what is more needed is to provide personnel who can help disabled people when they come and use health services.
“To provides personnel who can help when there are disabled people who want to use health services,” she added.
Supporting this statement, Alfian Andhika Yudhistira, one of the blind students at Universitas Airlangga, acknowledged that the existing health protocol was quite helpful, but its dissemination of the health protocol needs to be replicated.
“Dissemination on health services is also necessary. Then, it is also necessary to work out how to treat physical distancing to the blind, “he said.
According to him, there must be discussions related to that health protocol in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its inclusiveness must also be increased.
Then, he hoped for improvement from organizations of disabled people. It does not only focus on seeking economic assistance, but also seeks to improve the dissemination of Covid-19’s danger.
It is unfortunate for him that the spread of irresponsible news is still milling about in online media groups such as Whatsapp. Therefore, assisting and increasing dissemination about health protocols or other information among disabled people is very important.
“Maybe for friends who are deaf, there is enough information. because web media and apps can still be seen by them. However, the dissemination still needs to be improved, “he concluded. (*)
Author: Ulfah Mu’amarotul Hikmah
Editor: Binti Q Masruroh
