Media berbahasa Inggris yang berbasis di Singapura, Channel NewsAsia (CNA) baru-baru ini membuat berita yang menyoroti nasib sejumlah gelandangan atau tunawisma di Jakarta saat hidup di tengah pandemi Covid-19.
Pada Minggu (20/2/2022), CNA menerbitkan artikel berjudul “For the homeless in Jakarta, Covid-19 means more economic desperation and health risks” di situs web mereka.
Dalam artikel tersebut, mulanya diceritakan bahwa sudah berhari-hari seorang gelandangan bernama Dede tidak enak badan. Tenggorokanya terasa kering dan sakit, batuknya tak kunjung berhenti, dan otot-ototnya nyeri.
Meski tinggal hanya beberapa ratus meter dari fasilitas drive thru tes Covid-19, Dede enggan untuk dites.
Pasalnya, biaya rapid test atigen besarnya tiga kali lipat dari penghasilannya setiap hari dari mengumpulkan botol plastik kosong yang mengotori trotoar atau terdampar di tepi sungai terdekat yang dia jual ke pendaur ulang.
“Jika saya menghabiskan uang saya untuk tes, apa yang akan saya makan?” kata Dede, yang hanya bersedia menyebutkan nama depannya, kepada CNA.
“Bahkan jika saya dites positif, ke mana saya akan pergi? Jika saya dalam isolasi, bagaimana saya bisa mendapatkan uang untuk membeli makanan?” tambah Dede saat diwawancara di depan sebuah gedung kosong berlantai tiga tempat dia suka tidur di malam hari.
Singapore-based English-language media Channel NewsAsia (CNA) recently made a story highlighting the plight of a number of homeless or homeless people in Jakarta while living in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Sunday (20/2/2022), CNA published an article entitled “For the homeless in Jakarta, Covid-19 means more economic desperation and health risks” on their website.
In the article, it was initially stated that a homeless man named Dede had not been feeling well for days. His throat was dry and sore, his coughing wouldn't stop, and his muscles ached.
Even though he lives only a few hundred meters from the Covid-19 test drive thru facility, Dede is reluctant to be tested.
The reason is, the cost of the antigen rapid test is three times his daily income from collecting empty plastic bottles that litter the sidewalks or stranded on the nearest river bank which he sells to recyclers.
“If I spend my money on tests, what will I eat?” Dede, who only agreed to give his first name, told CNA.
“Even if I test positive, where will I go? If I'm in isolation, how can I get money to buy food?” Dede added when interviewed in front of an empty three-story building where he likes to sleep at night.