LEARNING EXPERIENCE FROM COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN EAST JAVA

Abstract

Global Pandemic COVID-19 has affected all nations across the globe. East Java, as a large-populated area with various ethnicities on the island of Java, presents its own challenges. For Covid-19 prevention and control, a multi-perspective approach should incorporate community-based empowerment, public health measures, including crisis and disaster management. This paper describes East Java Province’s experience in the pandemic COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in the past pandemic year. Methods used in this research include literature review from East Java province’s formal websites COVID-19, National COVID-19 Task Force, in-depth interview and focus group discussion. Selected key informants have been chosen to ensure validity of information and data accuracy. Qualitative data was collected by a selected transcriber and then analyzed using thematic analysis. A variety of local wisdom emerged in fighting against COVID-19.  Several important lessons have been learned from this research including traditional approach, community empowerment, a unique crisis communication model, model for crisis management strategies, efforts in disaster risk reduction and the importance of crisis leadership as part of prevention and control of COVID-19 in Indonesia.