"We just received oxygen from Singapore yesterday, Tuesday. We will immediately distribute it to various health service facilities, especially the "vertical" hospitals -- those run by the Health Ministry -- in Java and Bali," the Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said when confirmed by ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.
She explained that the assistance was a form of concern and brotherhood between Indonesia and Singapore, in an effort to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current increase in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, Siti Nadia noted, required speed in delivering health care, especially for those who need treatment in hospitals in the red zone.
"The shipments are planned in stages every week," she said.
The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the assistance of 11,000 oxygen concentrators was initiated by the Temasek Foundation and 15 Indonesian and Singaporean companies, in the form of medical equipment donations.
As of July 13, 2021, the Temasek Foundation, together with 15 Indonesian and Singaporean companies, have collected 11,000 oxygen concentrators for Indonesia.
A total of 1,500 concentrators departed from Shanghai and arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday.
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The handover ceremony was held in Beijing, witnessed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to China, Djauhari Oratmangun, at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Beijing.
About 15 Indonesian and Singaporean companies collaborated with the Temasek Foundation in providing donations. The participating companies include Bakti Barito Foundation, Cikarang Listrindo, Dharma Satya Nusantara, East Ventures, Indies Capital Partners, Kino Indonesia, Sinar Mas, Tanoto Foundation, TBS Energi Utama, Triputra Group, UID Foundation, Wahana Artha, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, DBS Bank, and Singtel.
The chairman of the Temasek International Foundation, Jennie Chua, said that the new variant COVID-19, which is more contagious, required the fast cooperation and support of all parties, both in Indonesia and Singapore, in overcoming this outbreak.
"The Temasek Foundation and the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, facilitated cooperation and collaboration between various parties, both Indonesia and Singapore, in an effort to quickly help Indonesia overcome the current pandemic situation," Jennie Chua said.
The assistance is expected to assist efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, as well as to reflect the good relations and close friendship between Indonesia and Singapore.
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Translator: Andi F, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
