I reiterate President Joko Widodo's call for the importance of fostering the spirit of 'gotong royong' or mutual cooperation in battling COVID-19 because it is the key to tackling the pandemicBogor, W Java (ANTARA) - Patron of Jakarta-based Al Azhar Youth Leader Institute (AYLI) Sariat Arifia praised companies and organizations that have extended assistance to the Indonesian government to fulfill a major demand in medical oxygen to save COVID-19 patients.
"I reiterate President Joko Widodo's call for the importance of fostering the spirit of 'gotong royong' or mutual cooperation in battling COVID-19 because it is the key to tackling the pandemic," Arifia told ANTARA here, Tuesday.
To this end, the contribution made by public-listed tire manufacturer PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk and other companies to the government's endeavors to ensure the availability of oxygen for COVID-19 patients was laudable.
"The government cannot work alone to fight the spread of COVID-19. Stop debating and criticizing. Instead, please do and share whatever we have to help battle the pandemic," Arifia emphasized.
Apart from Gajah Tunggal, other big enterprises in Indonesia were also able to convert their chemical units to supply medical oxygen.
"Indonesia does need it now," he stressed.
Early this week, PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk and the Endeavor Peaceful Indonesia (UID) Foundation donated 2,000 tons of liquid oxygen to the Health Ministry as Indonesia battles a COVID-19 surge.
State-run Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta became the first recipient of the donated oxygen, according to the Indonesian Health Ministry's official website that ANTARA quoted on Tuesday.
For the first phase, 20 tons of liquid oxygen were distributed to RSCM, which is known as Indonesia's national referral center for government hospitals and a leading hospital education.
The donation was symbolically handed over by Gajah Tunggal President Director Sugeng Rahardjo and UID Foundation head, Handaka Santosa, to RSCM President Director Lies Dina Liastuti during a ceremony on Monday.
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The handover ceremony that took place at the RSCM's complex area was also attended by the Health Ministry's Director General for Health Service, Abdul Kadir.
The ministry revealed that for the subsequent phases, some 200 tons of the donated liquid oxygen will be distributed every month to hospitals in dire need of medical oxygen in the islands of Java and Bali.
Sugeng Rahardjo was quoted as saying on the ministry's official website that the donation had become the commitment of Gajah Tunggal Group and the UID Foundation to join the nation's fight against COVID-19.
To this end, the availability of medical oxygen supplies is deemed crucial for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at RSCM and other hospitals, he affirmed.
"The donated two thousand tons of liquid oxygen is expected to contribute to the nation's efforts to strengthen the spirit of 'gotong royong' deemed vital when Indonesia battles the COVID-19 pandemic, he stated.
Over the past few weeks, Jakarta and several other provinces have been striving to cope with the impacts of a severe second wave of COVID-19 amid growing threats of the more transmissible Delta variant.
Data of the ministries of health and industry pointed to a fivefold increase in the demand for medical oxygen cylinders due to the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases.
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Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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