Health workers criticize Sutiyoso

Health workers criticize Sutiyoso

Healthy people are more productive. The people who know most
about people's health are doctors and nurses. They spend their
time taking care of sick people. Members of these professions
share with The Jakarta Post their opinion on Governor Sutiyoso's
policy on health during his term of office, which will end in
October.

Dr. Yenny Agustin, 30, was born in Malang, East Java, and
moved to Jakarta 25 years ago. She now resides at the Lippo
Karawaci housing estate in Tangerang.

I don't know Sutiyoso in person. I just know him from the
television and newspapers. But, as far as I know, he has done
nothing significant for the public. Worse still, I have never
heard of policies of his that are beneficial for the public,
especially in public health.

Most young doctors in the capital will still vividly recall
that Sutiyoso entrusted them to assist, on a voluntary basis,
flood victims during the recent flood which swamped Jakarta last
January and February.

After almost a month of tiring work, the governor merely paid
a tribute to the volunteers. It's really soul-destroying to know
that not a single rupiah was paid to them, although many people
are aware that billions of rupiah in funds were allocated for
dealing with the flooding.

Besides, Sutiyoso's performance as governor has also been
disappointing, specially in view of his failure to resolve the
garbage issue.

The protracted debacle on the Bantar Gebang dumpsite in Bekasi
was partly caused by the governor's unfulfilled promises to the
locals.

I wouldn't object at all if the city council reelected him to
another term. What's more important is whoever the next governor
might be, he or she must improve the situation here.

Dr. Ade, 27, is a Jakarta-born doctor who lives in Jl.
Kalipasir, Central Jakarta. He is also actively involved in the
Volunteer Team for Humanity.

In fact, many good programs were set up by the city
administration. However, most of them missed their target and
were not implemented properly.

The fundamental problem lies with the corrupt administration.
Many programs have turned into fiascos because corrupt people at
the administration have abused them as cash cows.

If Sutiyoso wants to bring in real change in the capital, he
must solve the most basic problem, which is the corrupt
structure.

Rosari Siahaan, 26, was born in Jakarta. She is working in a
private hospital in East Jakarta and now resides in Klender, East
Jakarta.

Sutiyoso's performance has not been impressive. I have read
some parts of his accountability speech from the newspapers and I
found that many irregularities have occurred.

Many programs he carried out only resulted in people
squandering money in the name of the public interest. His program
to construct centers for combating drugs, for example, proved to
be ineffective in combating the distribution of illegal drugs in
the capital.

In addition, Sutiyoso promised much to the residents, but as
you see, he did nothing to make it happen.

Please, don't reelect him to another term. Maybe other people
can do better than he. -- JP