The cooperation is contained in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono at the TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Monday.
"The coordination and collaboration are expected to be able to realize health-oriented development and create a conducive environment for implementing healthy living community movements," Sadikin noted in a statement here on Wednesday.
He remarked that health transformation efforts need strong support and partnership involving various relevant parties, such as the government, TNI, National Police, the community, academicians, and media.
The role of TNI is deemed necessary in supporting health development in Indonesia.
The minister assessed that the TNI, with its resources, is always ready to support health efforts, be it during normal situations or during health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and disasters.
"There are many things that can be improved regarding the health of our nation, the safety of health workers, especially in regions," he remarked.
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The minister said that in normal situations or before the crisis occurred, the TNI, with its health resources, had helped strengthen access and quality of health services and maintain global health security.
Sadikin further noted that during the crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, the TNI had made several contributions to the success of vaccinations, medical evacuation, health services, testing, tracing, treatment, and the provision of facilities and logistics.
"With this agreement, it is hoped that the synergy between the Ministry of Health and the TNI can be stronger, thereby accelerating the implementation and quality (improvement) of health transformation and the achievement of various national and global health targets," he remarked.
In the same statement, Margono stated that the task of the TNI is to protect the integrity of Indonesia and safeguard the safety of the nation and state.
"It is the task of the TNI to protect the community from all forms of threats, as we all know, the most likely threats (to emerge) are border threats, (and) there are also disasters, there is also a virus that we have gone through together, namely COVID-19," he outlined.
He noted that the community and government also need to focus on threats, such as famine and disasters, that can occur anytime.
"The TNI supervises government activities in the regions, including educational development and even health. Of course, with the MoU, we will be ready to supervise any regions that the minister recommends, especially to safeguard health workers," he remarked.
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Translator: Sean Muhamad, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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