Healthcare Heroes to the Rescue

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Indika Energy established the Indika Solidarity (INSOL) initiative. In Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, INSOL runs a PCR lab to test for coronavirus infection. To date, it’s the first and only drive-through PCR testing facility in Balikpapan, providing social distancing to give health workers and visitors a sense of security.

All Indika Energy Group employees who have just arrived in Balikpapan are required to undergo a PCR test before being assigned to their respective sites. With employee health and safety, a key focus of the company, INSOL plays an important role in the company’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the work area. INSOL Balikpapan runs from Mondays to Saturdays, returning test results accurately and swiftly — within the same day if a sample is taken before 12 noon.

Overseeing the team of 11 health professionals at the facility is Dr. Andriani. She was initially based at Petrosea’s head office in Jakarta. “When INSOL Balikpapan opened and I was offered the chance to join, my heart was called,” she says. “Working at Petrosea made me understand how the role of colleagues at the site is very crucial for the sustainability of the company and that their health must be a priority.”

In fact, many of the other health professionals at INSOL Balikpapan came from outside the city. For these selfless heroes, the chance to serve the community is a noble mission: “We are here united in a calling to help others.”

In addition to testing Indika Energy employees, the facility also offers tests for the general public. To date, it has conducted more than 8,000 tests, most of them PCR, but also antibody rapid tests and rapid antigen tests.
With the government currently carrying out a vaccination campaign, Dr. Andriani and her team say everyone should remain vigilant. “Wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance, avoid crowds, and limit mobilization,” she says. “Make this health protocol your new habit.”