Medical staff shortage compounds Indonesia virus crisis

A shortage of medical staff has compounded the coronavirus crisis in Indonesia, as health care workers increasingly fall victim to the virus.

Irman Pahlepi is back at work in Jakarta's Dr. Suyoto public hospital, immediately resuming his duties treating COVID-19 patients after recovering from an infection himself - for the second time.

With numbers of infections in Indonesia skyrocketing and deaths steadily climbing, Pahlepi felt he had no other option but to jump right back into the fray to help his overworked colleagues.

"The current number of COVID-19 patients is three to four times higher now than the previously highest spike in January and February", said Pahlepi, who's 30.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, had its deadliest day last week with more than 2,000 people dying last Tuesday, and has reported only slightly lower daily numbers since then.

The total death toll currently exceeds 97,000, with more than 1,200 health workers among the dead. Just under 600 were doctors.

Pahlepi's first personal battle with the virus was last November, when he tested positive despite having taken all precautions.

Fortunately, his case was mild and he was able to return to work after in two weeks recovering in isolation.

He tested positive again on July 14, while he was working extra shifts to help cope with the influx of COVID patients during the recent surge - just one week before he was to get his first vaccination.

While he was asymptomatic when he got the first infection, during his second bout with COVID he had severe headaches and his bones ached.

"When the results were positive, I immediately checked the chest x-ray, blood and saturation and everything was safe so I decided to self-isolate at home", Pahlepi said during a video interview as he was in isolation.

With his training, he was able to keep a careful eye on his health, ensuring that his blood oxygen level was good and that he didn't need more advanced treatment.

"There are many patients who deserve to be hospitalised with more severe symptoms" he added.

As soon as he was better, Pahlepi went right back to work to help his overworked colleagues.

"The number of the patients is beyond our capabilities as healthcare workers", he said. "We have use  200% to 300% of our energy every time we have our shifts."

Last year, most of the severely ill patients Pahlepi saw were senior citizens.

Now, as the delta variant spreads throughout the country, he said most of the patients showing up at the emergency room with medium and severe symptoms are children and young adults.

Between his own coronavirus infections, Pahlepi and his wife had their first child - a daughter who is now five months old - and he said it's been particularly difficult as a new father to see so many children admitted for treatment with relatively severe symptoms.

Though there is no end in sight to the current wave in Indonesia, Pahlepi's thoughts are regularly of that day when life returns to normal for his young family and the rest of the country.

"I feel tired, exhausted but we have to keep our spirits up to make Indonesia successfully free from COVID-19", he said.

Acknowledging the risks faced by health care workers, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Monday said that they are the top priority for a third vaccine booster.