Jakarta – Diversified petrochemical giant PT Barito Pacific Tbk plans to donate Rp 30 billion (US$1.8 million) worth of medical devices to help a number of hospitals in Jakarta, Banten and West Java treat COVID-19 patients.
Funds sourced from the company's two subsidiaries, petrochemical company PT Chandra Asri and geothermal company Star Energy Holding Pte Ltd., as well as its Yayasan Bakti Barito foundation, would be used to buy medical devices for hospitals in Jakarta, West Java and Banten. The two subsidiaries are also to be in charge of channeling the donations."We prioritize and are concerned for those who are directly affected by this pandemic," Barito Pacific president director Agus Salim Pangestu said in a written statement issued on Wednesday, adding that the founder of the company, Prajogo Pangestu, wanted to help alleviate the burden caused by the pandemic.
The medical devices, which are to be distributed gradually, will include 45,000 COVID-19 test kits, consisting of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid test kits, 120,000 surgical and N95 masks, two ventilators, 60,000 protective overalls, dozens of pieces of oxygen therapy equipment and hundreds of gloves, boots and other items. The medical supplies have been distributed since the end of March and will continue until the foreseeable future.
Indonesia's COVID-19 task force chief, Doni Monardo, who is also the head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, expressed gratitude for the donations and asked other members of society to support the government's policies for dealing with the health crisis as the number of patients continues to grow, even exceeding the capacity of existing hospitals.
He added that there was a shortage of medical equipment and difficulty in attaining it, which was why donations like the ones given by Barito Pacific mattered.
Currently, the hospitals listed to receive the help are the Sulianti Saroso Hospital, Harapan Kita Hospital, Persahabatan Hospital, Carolus Hospital and Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital in Jakarta, the Cilegon General Hospital, Serang General Hospital and Krakatau Medika Hospital in Banten and the Cibinong Bogor General Hospital, Al Ihsan Bandung Hospital, Hasan Sadikin Bandung Hospital, Syamsudin Sukabumi General Hospital and Slamet Garut General Hospital in West Java. (ydp)