Serang (ANTARA) – Former students of the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy of the class of 1989 organized a mass vaccination program against COVID-19 and provided social assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the province of Banten.

Vaccinations and social assistance were provided at three points: Cilegon City Square; Jamiatul Ikhwan Islamic boarding school, Pasir Buntu village, Tunjung Teja sub-district, Serang district; and Irhamna Bil Quran Islamic Boarding School in Pari Village, Mandalawangi Subdistrict, Pandeglang District, Monday.

The activity was led by the head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Commissioner General Agus Andrianto, who is one of the former students.

Andrianto said the mass vaccination and social assistance event was intended to help the people of Banten amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

He congratulated the 1989 graduating army, navy, air force and police alumni, saying their collaboration made the event a success.

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This vaccination and social service activity is also organized to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the National Defense Force, and at the same time a series of 33 years of our service as members of the TNI and members of the police force of the ‘Academy of Indonesian Armed Forces Alumni of 1989, “he informed.

He revealed that the former students have been organizing immunization activities and social services since 2020.

“We, 89 alumni of the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy, must contribute by helping and assisting the community,” he noted.

He believed that the COVID-19 vaccination activity was a means of supporting government policies and the policies of the Commander of the National Defense Forces and the Chief of the National Police in dealing with COVID-19.

He also explained that the National Defense Force and the Police Force have a strategic role in the fight against COVID-19.

He said he expected the event to strengthen the formation of collective immunity among those under the jurisdiction of the Banten Police Force, while helping the government in the national economic recovery.

Banten Governor Wahidin Halim, who was also present at the event, greeted the alumni.

Halim pointed out that the immunization and social service activities have really helped the people of Banten province.

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“Currently, the COVID-19 vaccination rate has reached 62% in Banten province. Only two other regions, such as Lebak and Pandeglang, are still below 40% (in terms of vaccination coverage). This is all thanks to the hard work of members of the National Defense Force and the police who helped us speed up the vaccination in Banten, ”Wahidin said.

Meanwhile, Andrianto said he also held a meeting with Serang Police Chief and Pandeglang Police Chief on the Zoom virtual platform.

He said he advised the Pandeglang police chief to make creative inroads such as providing basic food packages, organizing door prizes and other incentives for people to participate in immunization programs.

Cooperation with the community and religious leaders is necessary so that the vaccination program can cover more people, he added.

The Indonesian Armed Forces Academy of ’89 aims to deliver 30,000 doses of the vaccine nationwide, and around 5,000 doses have been allocated to Banten province, he said.

Former students distributed 5,000 welfare packages to residents, he added.

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