Jokowi Asks PPE For Domestic Production To Be Increased

Illustrations (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said Indonesia lacked medical equipment, especially personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators in dealing with the spread of the corona virus or COVID-19. For personal protective equipment, said Jokowi, there is still a shortage of 3 million units for medical personnel.

"The report I received, the PPE stock is getting more limited and calculations show that we need approximately three million PPE by the end of May," Jokowi said in his presentation before chairing a limited meeting on Monday, March 30.

Therefore, Jokowi asked for the procurement of this personal protective equipment to be carried out immediately. As well, asking domestic protective equipment manufacturers to meet domestic needs.

"I also asked for domestic products to be used. Because of the data I received, there were 28 PPE producers in our country," he said, adding that the ministers must also ensure the ease of importing raw materials for personal protective equipment from abroad.

Regarding ventilators or breathing aids for COVID-19 positive patients, Jokowi said there must be development from domestic producers. So, Indonesia can make ventilators and meet current needs.

Furthermore, Jokowi also asked for rapid test kits and various other laboratory equipment, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), VTR, and reagents to deal with this virus. Moreover, currently many local governments have asked for PCR and VTR in their areas to accelerate the detection of COVID-19.

"Apart from medical devices, I also ask for the availability of rapid tests, then PCR, VTR to speed up laboratory tests," he said.

The government has distributed 151 thousand personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel to 36 regions in Indonesia and the distribution is carried out by the TNI.

"From 170 thousand stocks up to this morning, 151 thousand have been distributed. So, the national reserves are 19 thousand PPE," said Paban IV / Domestic Operations, TNI Operations Staff Col. Aditya Nindra Pasha at the BNPB Building, Jakarta, Thursday, March 27.

Based on data from the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, DKI Jakarta received PPE of 40 thousand. Meanwhile, West Java received the distribution of this medical device of 15 thousand.

Then for Central Java and East Java, they get PPE distribution of 10 thousand. Furthermore, Bogor, Banten, Yogyakarta and Bali received 5,000 PPE for each region.

Not only that, the TNI has also distributed 2,000 PPE to each area such as Aceh, Riau, West Sumatra, Riau Islands, Jambi, Bengkulu, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Lampung, NTB, NTT, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan. , South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan.

The same amount was also distributed to Gorontalo, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, North Maluku, Maluku and West Papua regions.

Even though it has been distributed, there are still some regions that have not taken the PPE. Among them, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, South Sumatra, Gorontalo and Central Sulawesi.