MUHAMMADIYAH.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Muhammadiyah mobilizes 60,000 volunteers to confront the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia under a command of the Muhammadiyah COVID-19 Command Center (MCCC). In a press conference of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on “Dukungan Relawan Organisasi Keagamaan dan Relawan Indonesia Bersatu (Support to Social Movement Volunteers and Indonesia United Volunteers) on Thursday (14/5), Deputy Head of Cooperation and Advocacy Division of the MCCC dr. Corona Rintawan stated that the volunteers focus on prevention and mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic in various realms.

“They perform their duties in or outside hospitals,” informed dr. Corona.

The volunteer forum is an initiative to empower Muhammadiyah-owned resources as hospitals and higher education institutions throughout Indonesia to cope with the pandemic.

Data reported that the medical volunteers are comprised of 2,396 doctors, 7,225 nurses, 1,333 midwives, 1,255 medical-supporting staff, 1,009 pharmacists, 700 nutritionists and 6,482 hospital-related staff. Meanwhile, the non-medical volunteers encompass 30 psychologists, 62 psychosocial staff, 32 logistics staff, 45 administrative staff and several central, regional and branch boards of Muhammadiyah.

dr. Corona conveyed that, established on March 2020, the MCCC together with the volunteers has undertaken programs to break the chain of COVID-19 infection. The volunteers have played roles in promoting social distancing, putting on a mask, using of disinfectant, and assigning a number of hospitals as referral hospitals.

Furthermore, Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah have donated 130 bullion rupiahs (out of hospital funds) to support the COVID-19 prevention programs.