Garut Lacks Breathing Aids, Ridwan Kamil: I Closed It For Us To Buy

JAKARTA - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil stated that public hospitals in Garut Regency lacked breathing apparatus for COVID-19 patients. So it needs to be supplied by the province so that the tool is available safely.

"I see that in Garut there is a shortage of tools to help breathing, in two days I will close it for us to buy and hand it over to Garut," said the Governor after reviewing the condition of Dr. Slamet Garut Hospital, Friday.

He said the West Java Provincial Government would immediately hold a meeting to procure breathing equipment or oxygen for COVID-19 patients handled by hospitals and private hospitals in Garut.

After the breathing apparatus is available, he said, then the Garut Regent will direct the provision of the equipment, which is not only available at government hospitals but also for private hospitals.

"It will be arranged by the Regent, the equipment will be in hospitals, some are in private hospitals, so that private hospitals do not only treat moderate ones, even heavy ones can be treated in private hospitals," he said.

Regarding the availability of oxygen in other areas, said the Governor, based on reports in the field, it is still safe for the next three to four days, although there are one or two areas that are lacking, the condition can still be overcome by the local government.

"I think the Regent can solve it first, later the Regent will have a new white flag with the province," he said.

Head of the Garut District Health Office, Maskut Farid, added that there was an increase in the number of cases of the COVID-19 outbreak which resulted in many patients having to be treated for medical treatment.

The current situation, he said, was faced with the difficulty of getting oxygen supplies to help breathe COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalized for the past few days.

"So it is now (oxygen) is a bit difficult, but we try to drop it as soon as possible," he said.

A number of puskesmas also complained about the condition of the absence of oxygen equipment stock, the condition will be resolved as soon as possible so that medical services remain optimal.

"Hopefully there will be no oxygen vacancies at the puskesmas, yesterday it was empty, the market was empty," he said.