Photo credit to Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)

Data from Market Community Survey conducted by COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement Team -- consisting of Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Food and Agriculture Organization’s Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (FAO ECTAD) supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) -- obtained by engaging market management staff members, traders, and buyers in Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) regions by means of virtual interview concludes that public awareness, in this case the market community as one of most susceptible to COVID-19 infection, expressed that only 3% are aware to practice physical distance in market.

To suppress the number of COVID-19 transmission in the market, concrete synergy is needed. However, there are 3 main challenges: 85% respondents don’t know the protocol to prevent COVID-19, 80% still use cash for payment, and 69% cited the limited space as reason of not practicing physical distancing between traders and buyers.

“The big challenge in market is the limited space. Together with the market management or paguyuban [community leader], we will conduct safety protocol promotion by utilizing toa [megaphone], [public address system] speaker, and [direct persuasion by] paguyuban. One of which is educating the public about the correct use of mask,” said Aulia Arriani of PMI’s Community Engagement and Accountability Division.

Using effective communication media to educate is the key to raise awareness and knowledge of the market community on the COVID-19 prevention effort as informed by 69% of the respondents, as well as 73% respondents who cited on the importance of reminder announcement to keep the tenants’ area clean.

“Market community is the backbone in providing staple food for the people of Indonesia during the pandemic. Other than promoting health protocol, attention on capacity building of the market management in cleaning and disinfecting the market is also necessary to prevent COVID-19 transmission,” said FAO ECTAD Team Leader Luuk Schoonman.

Components of Risk Communication and Community Engagement in COVID-19 prevention is summarized in the Market Community Survey Result that be the included as suggestions to raise market community awareness on the importance of following health protocol by providing hand-washing facility, as well as creating health campaign keywords that appeal public to remind and protect each other through information-sharing about the correct way to use mask, keep distance, the 7 steps of proper handwashing, and safe transaction, using media such as poster, loudspeaker, or WhatsApp instant messaging group chat consists of the market community members.

About Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)

Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is the Indonesia national society of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) established on September 17, 1945. PMI is currently located in 34 provinces, 472 regencies/districts with around 4,000 branches and more than 1 million volunteers across Indonesia. PMI’s actions are guided by the 7 Fundamental Principles of IFRC (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, universality). PMI’s mandate is to offer humanitarian service to people in times of disasters and conflicts, blood donation service, health service and capacity-building of volunteers. PMI encourages the empowerment of local resources in disaster risk management.

About International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

As the world's largest humanitarian network with 192 National Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)’s mandate is to offer technical, financial, and logistic support to the societies across the world, as well as strengthening regional and global participation/cooperation in times of disaster, health emergency crisis, and population movements.

About FAO Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (FAO ECTAD)

FAO ECTAD is an emergency center established in 2004, specifically aims to assist FAO-member countries in responding to transboundary animal health crisis. FAO ECTAD continuously offers support in controlling Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and other endemic diseases, such as rabies dan anthrax. In addition, FAO ECTAD focuses on global health threats transmitted from animals to humans (zoonosis).