COVID-19 Cases Are Crazy In Indonesia, Luhut Admits Asking For Help From Singapore To China

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Doc. Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - 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, 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.

The Java-Bali Emergency Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) Coordinator also explained that international assistance was provided to help Indonesia deal with the impact of COVID-19. The reason is the current spike in positive cases is one of the highest in the world.

In Luhut's presentation, it was stated that Japan assisted with 998,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, 200 units of ventilators, 256 units of empty 50 lt oxygen cylinders, 250 filled 50 lt oxygen cylinders, and 600 units of the oxygen concentrator.

Meanwhile, Singapore donated 75,000 surgical masks, 25,000 N95 masks, 2,000 surgical gloves, 1,000 disposable gowns, 1,000 surgical caps, 20 ventilator units, and 250 filled 50 lt oxygen cylinders.

Then, United Arab Emirates provided 450 units of oxygen cylinders, 150 units of portable oxygen concentrators, 20 tons of medical protective supplies, and 250,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine.

Meanwhile, China donated 400 units of the Sysmedoc OC-E100 oxygen concentrator, 20,000 nasal oxygen tubes, 20,000 oxygen masks, and 1,000 ventilators. Finally, the US through Covax Facilities provided 3,000,060 doses and 1,500,100 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Luhut said the government also provided medical assistance to COVID-19 patients with mild and asymptomatic symptoms. This drug package is provided free of charge. The purpose of this drug distribution is to prevent an increase in cases from mild to moderate or even severe symptoms.

"We want as much as possible not to be carried to medium and heavy, so that we save oxygen, to fulfill oxygen capacity. We never imagined facing this kind of situation, no one in the world would have guessed, previously 80 percent for hospitals, 20 percent for industry. Now all 100 percent to the hospital", he said.

Not only international assistance, he continued, various domestic private institutions and companies also assisted the government in handling COVID-19.

Luhut said that he had told private parties who wanted to help not to assist in the form of money. Because the government already has a list of needs that can be selected if you want to help.

"So there are a lot of them (helpers) who come. They give donations, some we ask for and some we don't ask for. So we don't accept financial donations. Those who want to help me tell them what they need, so go ahead", he said.

As for assistance from the private sector, including Shopee Singapore, assisting with 1000 units of 50L oxygen cylinder with valve. Then, Huayou Cobalt gave 1000 units of 5LPM oxygen concentrator.

Then there are those from Harita & Lygend Shanghai, 5000 units of the finger pulse oximeter, 50 units of HFNC HF 75A (without trolley), 47 units of Trolley for HFNC HF 75A, 800 Sets of Consumable Nasal Canulla, 800 Sen Heating Breathing Pipe Sets, and 100 Units of Consumable Air Filter.

Not only that, said Luhut, besides that there was also assistance from local people such as Gojek, Halmahera Persada, and others.

"They came and didn't comment much, we didn't accept money. If you want to donate, the list is from outside and within the country", he said.