"The vice president expressed hope that within a year, the construction of the hospital would be completed. Later this month, we will send a technical team to review all matters, such as finding contractors, making the memorandum of understanding, and meeting stakeholders," Presidium of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) Dr. Sarbini Abdul Murad stated here on Friday.
MER-C had proposed the construction of the Indonesian Hospital in Rakhine to the vice president in June 2016 to support the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and the Indonesian Buddhists Representative.
Murad explained that since then, MER-C has managed to collect funds worth Rp30 billion, of which Rp10 billion is from the PMI, Rp10 billion from the MER-C, and another Rp10 billion sourced from other donors.
"All the funds are used for the construction of the hospital and procurement of medical equipment. We need Rp18 billion just for the hospital," he remarked.
Murad added that the construction of the hospital will begin in April 2017 in Mrauuk-U, Rakhine, an area inhabited by Muslim Rohingyas and Buddhists.
"The hospital is a neutral place, a gathering area for people from different religions and social strata, and even Muslims and Buddhists can interact, in the hope that closeness and mutual trust will increase," he pointed out.
Murad said the vice president was optimistic that the Indonesian Hospital in Rakhine will promote the values of tolerance among religious believers as is observed in Indonesia where there is harmony in diversity.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
