Semarang, May 13th 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on people's lives. One community that really felt the impact was people with disabilities. Seeing this situation, PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL Axiata) distributed aid to those visually impaired in several cities in Central Java and Sumatra. This assistance was channeled in stages since May 3rd 2020.
For the distribution of donations in the Central Java area, XL Axiata collaborates with the Indonesian Central Blind Muslim Association (ITMI). The three areas of aid distribution are; Sragen, Boyolali, and Grobogan. The distribution of aid from XL Axiata was adjusted to their primary needs in the midst of this pandemic, which was in the form of food donations. In total there were around 50 people with disabilities in the three regions that have received this aid support.
Group Head Central Region XL Axiata, Rd. Sofia Purbayanti said, "The current pandemic is affecting most people in Indonesia, including our fellow citizens who are visually impaired. The implementation of physical distancing and staying at home has impacted their livelihood, such as reducing or even losing their livelihood for most of them whom have been working as masseurs, buskers to even moving food vendors. Hopefully this donation can be useful for them."
DPW ITMI Central Java Province Representative, Hidayat stated that amidst the emergence of an appeal to avoid transmission of the Corona virus since mid-March 2020, the demand for services for people with visual impairment also dropped dramatically. According to him, the assistance from XL Axiata really helped the needs of their families.
Meanwhile in Sumatra, XL Axiata in collaboration with Pewarta Foto Indonesia (PFI) of Medan, Pekanbaru, and Palembang provided assistance to the visually impaired community through the Indonesian Visual Impaired Association or known as Persatuan Tuna Netra Indonesia (Pertuni). XL Axiata and PFI distributed primary basic food donations to the three cities on Friday (8/5).
In total there were about 200 food packages distributed. In Medan, there are 60 packages, while in Palembang 75 packages were distributed, and in Pekanbaru 65 packages were also distributed. XL Axiata and PFI have hopes that the basic food packages that were distributed can be of help for the members and families of the Persatuan Tuna Netra Indonesia (Pertuni) community.
XL Axiata continues to strive and continue its’ contribution relating to the Covid-19 mitigation in Indonesia. Until now, support for work and learning activities from home has been sustained through the free daily 2GB data quota access. Strengthening the network around the main referral hospital also continues. In addition, in results of the company’s collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), XL Axiata has distributed various assistance including thousands of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hazmat protective suits for medical personbels in a number of regions in Indonesia.