High Covid-19 Recovery Rate at PT Freeport, This Is What Was Done

03 June 2020

The recovery rate among Covid-19 patients at PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is the highest in Papua Province. This is attributed to earnest handling, encompassing provision of equipment and medical staff and support for patients.

As of Sunday (31/5/2020) the number of corona virus positive cases in Papua Province was 815 of which 272 cases were in Mimika Regency. 

There are 584 patients undergoing treatment in Papua, of whom 174 are in Mimika Regency. Out of 219 treated patients who have recovered, or 27 percent, 93 are in Mimika Regency. Interestingly, according to Mimika Regency’s Task Force, 71 patients or 76 percent of the 93 recovered patients in Mimika were treated in RS Tembagapura hospital, which is owned by PT Freeport Indonesia.

In Tembagapura District where PTFI is located, the number of Covid-19 cases is indeed high, at 136 with 71 recoveries, 62 still undergoing treatment, and 3 deaths.

On Saturday (30/5/2020), Jubi queried PT Freeport Indonesia regarding the handling of Covid-19 patients such that a high recovery rate was achieved. PT Freeport Corcom External Communications Manager Kerry Yarangga said PTFI is well aware that a drug, vaccine, or serum to prevent or cure the disease caused by the corona virus is yet to be found.  “As such PTFI is taking swift and earnest steps to deal with Covid-19,” he said. PT Freeport Indonesia brought in two Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing equipment to detect the corona virus through swab tests, on 9 May 2020. The equipment, which has a total capacity to examine 200 samples per day, was placed in PT Freeport’s Kuala Kencana Clinic in Timika and RS Tembagapura. “We have received swab test samples from outside the PTFI area,” he said.  Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, PTFI has recruited more than 50 health workers, including doctors internal medicine specialists and anesthesiologists, nurses,  Covid-19 laboratory technicians, and pharmacists.  “With regard to quarantine facilities, we provide the best facilities for our employees, the goal being to deliver a comfortable environment for patients in which to recuperate,” he said.  Yarangga said in terms of nourishment for patients, through RS Tembagapura PTFI pays a high degree of care in supplying the nutrients patients need to boost their body immunity. Also, patients are attended to 24/7 by medical staff. He added, coworkers and family workers provide support as they remain in constant communication, on top of which management assist with judicious policies. These all help medical staff and others to work more effectively in dealing with Covid-19.  

“We at PTFI are grateful to all who are providing assistance throughout this ordeal, including the government and the community, to support PTFI in taking swift measures to deal with Covid-19,” he said. The conclusion, Kerry Yarangga says, is that the recovery rate of patients at PT Freeport Indonesia is highly due to such factors as the behavior and actions of the patients themselves and the environment in which they reside. 

“Then there are also the facilities and amenities available, supported by clear policies providing for the health care system for patients, as well as genetics as they relate to antibodies,” he said. He added, the treatment provided adheres to the protocols determined by the Indonesian Health Ministry.   “No specific drugs are prescribed, the emphasis is more on boosting antibodies through healthy nourishment from milk, eggs, and Vitamin C, and sufficient amounts of carbohydrates and minerals,” he said.  On rapid testing, Yarangga said PTFI only conducts rapid tests on those with a history of contact with patients who were found to be corona positive. “Contact tracing, RDTs, and isolation are standard in accordance with government protocol, and that is what we are doing,” he said.  Yarangga admits among the factors speeding up diagnoses and treatment in PTFI’s RS Tembagapura is the support proffered by the Mimika regency and Papua provincial governments, which has allowed PTFI to supply its own PCR equipment.  

“As such in Timika there are two PCR instruments, and so there are no more long waits for swab test results, with diagnoses reached more quickly,” he said. Since 13 May 2020, RS Tembagapura has discharged 68 recovered patients. Also, the laboratory at PTFI’s Kuala Kencana Clinic has received at least 370 swab samples from the RSUD general hospital and RS Mitra Masyarakat hospital for analysis.  

 

Long queueing at government laboratories

To confirm if a Covid-19 patient is no longer infected with the corona virus, the patient’s swab result must be indicated to be negative through two PCR checks. Meanwhile the queueing for checks at the Papua Health R&D Center and Provincial Central Laboratory is extremely long, with around 1,000 swab samples lining up for testing with PCR equipment.  This is because they must serve 28 regencies and cities in Papua. Jayapura City confirms there has been a line of 110 swab samples for PCR testing since 14 May.  

Jayapura City Health Office Chief dr. Nyoman Sri Antari said from 9 May to 30 May, 6,396 residents of Hamadi Subdistrict underwent rapid tests, with 1,039 found to be reactive.   “857 people have taken swab tests and the PCR results have only come out for 690, of which 140 tested positive, three were declared recovered, and two died,” he said on Sunday (31/5/2020).

Dr. Nyoman says to date Jayapura City is still awaiting some 200 swab test results and will be conducting swabs for around 150 rapid tests with reactive results. All who are found to be reactive during rapid tests are promptly quarantined in repurposed hotels to prevent transmission. In addition to Jayapura which has conducted Covid-19 PCR testing, Yapen Islands Regency can now conduct tests in the Saireri area with CTM rapid test instruments, although the rate of samples testing is extremely limited at 8 samples per day.  Meanwhile in Nabire Regency, PCR equipment has been readied for conducting tests in the Meepago area, but had yet to begin operating as of last weekend. The lines in Jayapura have lengthened since Monday, 25 May 2020 when the Regional Central Laboratory ran out of reagents, and only the R&D Central Laboratory was able to conduct PCR tests at a capacity of 200 samples per day.  Papua Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson dr. Silwanus Soemoele, SpOG (K) says the task force is hampered by the shortage of reagents. “Supply is not commensurate with demand, whereas the number of reactive results of rapid tests through swabs is high, which has caused a long line of more than 800 samples,” he said on Wednesday  (27/5/2020). He said it was a classic case of unavailability of reagents, which is a recurring matter in Papua, with reagent suppliers limiting sales, resulting in long queues in two laboratories in Jayapura City.  “We ordered 15,000, but they still only delivered 5,000 as they are also distributing to other provinces, whereas for rapid tests, the supplies are ample and availability is constant, and we get renewed supplies in one or two days,” he said.  

With long lines forming, the Papua Health R&D Laboratory is endeavoring to increase the number of samples analyzed. “This has been ramped up to 300 samples, but it is an arduous task,” Soemele said. He said if Papua Health R&D Lab operates, it can run up to 300 samples per day. “With massive testing, we can detect cases in the soonest possible time, but delay will see those who come are severely or moderately affected, and that will be a problem,” he said.   

As of Sunday (31/5/2020) there were 109 positive cases of the corona virus who were undergoing treatment in hotels, as all hospitals in Jayapura City were filled to capacity. Soemoele said this was due to the Papua Province policy to immediately isolate all found to be reactive following rapid tests.  “Those found reactive after RDTs are immediately isolated, however patients under supervision (PDP) and patients under surveillance (ODP) who show symptoms are treated; if swab test results are positive whether with minor or moderate symptoms, the patients are treated they are treated at the Kotaraja BPSDM R&D Facility, in hotels, and in hospitals,” he said on Sunday (31/5/2020). He explained the policy was issued by the Papua Province Government to prevent the patients with mild status become severe and critical. The anticipation was carried considering Papua Province Government’s facilities, equipment, and medical personnel is very minimal. “The positive patients with mild status can be treated in training or hotel, it very depends on the patients’ real condition,” he said

Related to the availability of equipment in the Mimika Regency, Soemoele explained until Sunday (31/5/2020) the Covid-19 Task Force has coordinated with the Mimika Regency Government. They are three PCR kits in Mimika Regency that each located in Mimika Regional Hospital, PTFI’s Kuala Kencana Clinic, and Tembagapura Hospital (PTFI).

“The PCR kit in Tembagapura Hospital is optimal, while the kit in Kuala Kencana Clinic cannot work optimally due to the limited resources, and the kit in Mimika Regional Hospital is currently having trouble, the equipment is too advance, we are currently coordinating with the company.

https://jubi.co.id/kesembuhan-covid-19-tinggi-di-pt-freeport-papua/

 

 

Back to List

Next News

Other 1
06 January 2017

PT Freeport Indonesia hari ini menyerahkan bonus juara sebesar 1 Milya...

09 January 2017

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) hari ini menerima piagam rekor dunia dari...