Jakarta, May 13, 2020 - Bayer Indonesia, through its CSR, initiated a mitigation program to support the Government of Indonesia in flattening the curve of COVID-19. It is a community-based COVID-19 prevention program that focuses on two intervention areas, namely Penjaringan urban village, North Jakarta and a farming area in 45 districts in Central Java. Penjaringan urban village in Jakarta is selected because it is the epicenter of the pandemic, as well as a highly populated area. Meanwhile Central Java is selected because 75% of the farmers are above 45 years old, the age range that is more prone to COVID-19 infection. 48,500 people have received the benefit from Bayer Indonesia program.

Angel-Michael Evangelista, President Director of Bayer Indonesia explained: ”Bayer upholds its responsibility to be actively involved in COVID-19 prevention. Our objective is to protect vulnerable communities, hence they can have access to information and education about COVID-19, along with the right facilities to support them battle the disease, such as good nutrition, handwash facility, and disinfectant spray. We hope to be able to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases through this mitigation program, and to ease the burden of health workers and health facilities. What we implement today is aligned to our vision: “Health for all, Hunger for none”.

As the epicenter of COVID-19 incident, Jakarta contributed 40% of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia. 45% of the housing area in Jakarta is dense. Penjaringan urban village with a size of 395 ha has a population of 55,897 people, 14,403 heads of families, with 17 hamlets and 238 neighborhoods. Density level is 7,500 people/km2 with high mobility. In this urban village, poverty level is higher and public facilities are relatively poor. Not all houses are equipped with a facility for bathing, washing as well as private lavatory and good ventilation. Such conditions can trigger widespread COVID-19 infection when intervention to increase the awareness of the people about the importance to apply COVID-19 health and safety protocols is left out.

Bayer Indonesia appoints Mercy Corp Indonesia to execute 3 main activities in Penjaringan urban village, North Jakarta, effective from March 19 – June 15, 2020. These activities are:

• Building 45 communal handwash facilities in high mobility strategic locations;
• COVID-19 awareness education and campaign by printing and displaying CIE materials (communication, information and education) in high mobility strategic locations, such as the urban village office, security posts, small shop areas, alley ways that are often passed by the community, gathering places, and public toilets;
• Distribution of vitamins and analgesics to COVID-19 vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, the elderlies, people with the age below 70 years old who have health preconditions.

During the visit to Bayer intervention area on May 1, 2020, Eny Supartini, Director of Prevention and Readiness of National Agency of Disaster Response, mentioned: “Thank you Bayer for implementing community-based intervention program. All efforts, including the distribution of multivitamins is very helpful for vulnerable community groups. Bayer’s active participation in taking part for the nation is appreciated and does not go unnoticed.”

Aside from intervention in Penjaringan urban village, North Jakarta, Bayer Indonesia also attempted to protect the health of farmers in Central Java to remain productive in maintaining national food security. Protection for farmers is needed considering that Central Java is one of the national food production centers in Indonesia, with agriculture contributing to the economy in Central Java by 14%¹ and produced 5.5 million tons of rice or equal to 18% of national rice production in 2019².

Intervention is given by providing 234 handwash facilities and disinfectant spray in farmers’ kiosks and houses across 45 districts in Central Java Province. To date, 18,500 farmers and their families have received this assistance.

“The program has been implemented since early April to end of May 2020, and will be expanded to reach more villages and districts in Central Java, and other areas in Indonesia. We are hoping to reach 3 million people to enjoy the facilities of our initiative. The objective is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to secure food production for the people of Indonesia”, said Mohan Babu, Director of Bayer Indonesia.

Intervention is given by providing 234 handwash facilities and disinfectant spray in farmers’ kiosks and houses across 45 districts in Central Java Province. To date, 18,500 farmers and their families have received this assistance.

“The program has been implemented since early April to end of May 2020, and will be expanded to reach more villages and districts in Central Java, and other areas in Indonesia. We are hoping to reach 3 million people to enjoy the facilities of our initiative. The objective is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to secure food production for the people of Indonesia”, said Mohan Babu, Director of Bayer Indonesia.

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_{1 https://jateng.bps.go.id/pressrelease/2020/05/05/1224/pertumbuhan-ekonomi-jawa-tengah-triwulan-i-2020.html}

_{2 https://jateng.bps.go.id/pressrelease/2020/03/02/1223/luas-panen-dan-produksi-padi-di-jawa-tengah-pada-tahun-2019-mengalami-penurunan.html}

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Media Contact:

Laksmi Prasvita

Head of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability

PT Bayer Indonesia

Tel. +62 21 3049 1111

Email: laksmi.prasvita@bayer.com