Alumni of the UGM Faculty of Animal Science (Kapgama) held a “Charity and Care for Covid-19” event on Friday (6/8). They provided food assistance (i.e., chicken, eggs, and milk) to communities affected by Covid-19, especially health workers, students, and families of lecturers and staff of the Faculty of Animal Science. Apart from Kapgama, donors who took part in this charity activity were PT Ciomas Adisatwa and PT So Good Food (Japfa Group), PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, Tbk, and the Students’ Parents Association (POTMA) of the Faculty of Animal Science.
The Dean of the UGM Faculty of Animal Science, Prof. Ali Agus, said they together with livestock stakeholders, namely lecturers, students, industry players, and so on, gave this assistance due to concern with the community affected by Covid-19, especially health workers.
Ali added that with this condition, Kapgama needs to help each other in lightening the burden on the community, including those who are self-isolating, with quality livestock products. Thus, they can improve their fitness or immunity. According to several international journals, one way to reduce the fatality of Covid-19 sufferers is to increase protein consumption, specifically albumin found in eggs. Eggs are cheap, easy to find, and process.
This charity activity coincides with the month of Indonesian independence which describes struggle. Kapgama charity is a form of this struggle from the UGM Faculty of Animal Science to work together to help people affected by Covid-19.
A representative from the UGM Faculty of Animal Science Alumni, Dr. Bambang Suwignyo, said that this activity shows Kapgama’s concern in dealing with Covid-19. It is the spirit of gotong royong that has been formed since college.
During the pandemic, Kapgama has carried out charity work four times. The first, second, and third periods will be held in 2020, and the fourth period will be held in 2021, with recipients coming from students, staff, lecturers, and health workers.
Assistance for health workers was distributed to the UGM Academic Hospital (represented by the Director of Human Resources and Academics of the UGM Academic Hospital, Dr. Ika Puspitasari), the UGM Special Emergency Hospital for Covid-19 (represented by the Director of the Hospital, Tunggul Birowo), and the UGM Covid-19 Task Force centered at Gadjah Mada Medical Center (represented by the UGM Covid-19 Task Force Coordinator, Dr. Rustamaji).
Bambang added that health workers are at the forefront of handling Covid-19 who are at high risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus. Therefore, Kapgama thought of providing foods that have the potential to increase immunity. Providing food supplies that increase immunity means helping to overcome Covid-19.
Plan Manager of Sleman RPA PT Ciomas Japfa Group, Dody Agung Prasetyo, said this activity is a form of Japfa’s contribution to the community, especially health workers or those who are self-isolating and stay in the hospital. Dody hopes that this assistance can contribute to health workers to keep them enthusiastic and useful in increasing immunity.
