Furthermore, we also have a micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) program for people with disabilities, thus they can develop their own business, hence they can become independent.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-Owned Enterprises’ (SOEs’) Foundation for Indonesia, or Yayasan BUMN untuk Indonesia, has donated 75 thousand doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, which will be used as a booster vaccination for people with disabilities.

The vaccine grant would be disbursed by the Health Ministry to six provinces—Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and Bali, special staff to the President, Angkie Yudistia, informed while attending the vaccine handing over event here on Monday.

"It is the moment that the people with disabilities have been waiting for since they will finally be able to get booster vaccinations," she said, according to a press release.

People with disabilities in the six provinces received the first and second COVID-19 doses in the period from August to October 2021, she noted.

People with disabilities are part of the group that is prone to be exposed to the virus, hence the government has continued to meet the demand for vaccines among them, she stated.

"We want people with disabilities to have good immunity, especially in the midst of the current high COVID-19 transmission," the special staff remarked.

She then lauded the foundation and the ministry for working hard to ensure the availability of the vaccines for the group.

“I also express my gratitude to the SOEs’ Foundation for Indonesia and the Health Ministry for entrusting me to conduct the cross-sectoral coordination (on the vaccination effort)," she added.

Deputy Minister of SOEs, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, said that the current increasing trend of COVID-19 transmission has become a major concern for the government. Hence, the SOEs’ Foundation has committed to making the government’s vaccination program a success.

In addition to providing COVID-19 vaccines, he said that his ministry will provide training to people with disabilities so that they can acquire the required skills for gaining employment.

"I noted that 8.5 percent of the Indonesian population are disabled people. Furthermore, we also have a micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) program for people with disabilities, thus they can develop their own business, hence they can become independent,” he remarked.

The Indonesian government has begun to expedite COVID-19 vaccinations for persons with disabilities living in regions with a high risk of transmission.

Earlier, Indonesia had received a grant of 450 thousand doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine from the United Arab Emirates. The vaccines were administered to people with disabilities in Java and Bali regions in August 2021.

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Translator: Rangga Jingga, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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