UNAIR NEWS – The spread of Covid-19 is increasing, especially in the city of Surabaya. The city of Surabaya has been declared a redzone since March and confirmed cases continue to grow. As of Wednesday, April 22, 2020, there were 310 confirmed cases in the city of Surabaya.
This condition inspired UNAIR BEM (Student Executive Board) to do social action in the effort to prevent Covid-19 transmission. Previously, BEM collaborated with UNAIR Social Fund Management Center (PUSPAS) to distribute 200 food packages to the people of Surabaya, around campuses of UNAIR.
This time, BEM distributed 2,000 masks and hand sanitizers to people in need in East, Central and North Surabaya. Besides distributing masks and hand sanitizers, BEM volunteers also provide education to the public about social distancing. They also appeal to people who have to do activities outside the home to always wear masks.
Head of BEM Agung Tri Putra said that Ksatria Airlangga (students of UNAIR) have the spirit work together with the government and social institutions to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission, by helping directly affected communities.
“Fabric masks can reduce the spread of Covid-19 by up to 72%. Many people even the government now only focuses on health workers (health workers, ed) for the procurement of hazmat, hand sanitizer, and masks, “said Agung.
“The movement for health workers is indeed good, but it would be nicer for all Indonesian people, especially the city of Surabaya to also have masks and hand sanitizers as APD (personal protective equipment, ed) when they have to go outside the house,” he added.
The masks distributed to the community are non-medical fabric masks that can be used repeatedly but still able to protect from the dangers of Covid-19. They can be washed and reused.
Through this movement Agung hoped that the spread of Covid-19 pandemic can be suppressed as much as possible, so the pandemic can end soon.
“Everyone wants to work and live normally again. Hopefully this action can help people who have difficulty getting masks or hand sanitizers because the goods are hard to attain and the prices are fairly expensive. Long live student! Long Live Indonesian People! “, he concluded. (*)
Author: Janni Bahira Akbar (Indonesian Language and Literature Student 2018)
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
