Jokowi: The Government Is Working Hard To Fulfill National Oxygen Needs

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the government continues to strive to meet oxygen needs amid the increase in COVID-19 cases. In order to fulfill this need, the government cooperates with industry.

This was conveyed by Jokowi while reviewing PT Aneka Gas Industri in Cakung, East Jakarta on Friday, July 16.

"The government continues to work hard to meet oxygen demand nationally and we are working with domestic industries to secure the supply and distribution of medical oxygen needed by the community," Jokowi said as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube.

With this collaboration, it is hoped that the medical oxygen needs of the community will be met. Lack of oxygen due to an increase in positive cases of COVID-19.

Furthermore, Jokowi acknowledged that the demand for oxygen has indeed soared recently. Many COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals or isolation areas require medical oxygen.

"As is well known, the increase in COVID-19 cases continues to occur and this has led to a spike in the national oxygen demand for COVID-19 treatment," said the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

Thus, Jokowi appreciates the maximum efforts of the existing industry to meet the recent soaring demand for oxygen. "I really appreciate what has been done by PT Aneka Gas Industri and PT Samator who have worked optimally to meet the needs of medical oxygen," he said.

Previously reported, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan acknowledged that the government is currently asking for international assistance in tackling the impact of COVID-19 in the country. As you know, the number of COVID-19 cases has been increasing in recent years.

"We have received international assistance, don't tell anyone not to do it, of course we have done it and this (assistance) is gradual and continues," he said at a virtual press conference, Thursday, July 15.

According to Luhut, the government has asked for help from Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, China and Australia. He explained that the international assistance provided was varied. Meanwhile, according to him, the form of assistance received is a component that cannot be handled by the current government.

"So the form is not that we don't ask for help. We ask for help, but of course help that we think we can't handle. There are various things," he said.

One example is related to oxygen. Luhut said, the government requested assistance for ISO tanks or ISO tanks from neighboring Singapore. However, in that country also experiencing the same thing as Indonesia, namely the need for oxygen is increasing.

"ISO Tanks because the world also needs it and the country also has that problem, we mobilized ISO tanks from Indonesia, now we are starting to ask for Singapore. Even Singapore is not enough, and asking other countries, such as Abu Dhabi, and also China, this is very important, to reduce the need," he said.