Nur Yasmin, Jakarta – Indonesia on Monday received a shipment of medical equipment worth a total of $760,000 from three United Nations organizations – the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization and the International Organization for Migration.

The UN bodies will be sending a total of 33 ventilators to Indonesia in the next month, 27 of which will come from Japan.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is receiving the first shipment of three ventilators and will be sending them on to hospitals that desperately need them.

UNDP representative Christophe Bahuet said on Monday the UN body intends to minimize the impact of the pandemic on Indonesian society and its economy.

"The severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia requires support and partnerships. The medical equipment helps address one of the most urgent needs and will give Covid-19 patients vital health care," Bahuet said in a statement.

"This first delivery is part of our commitment to provide care to those who need it most and to ensure that no one is left behind," he said.

Indonesia still needs more ventilators as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country continues to increase. Meanwhile, demand around the world for the specialized equipment is still high and stock is limited.

As of May 31, there were 26,940 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Indonesia, with 1,641 deaths and 7,637 recoveries.

"The delivery of these ventilators is part of a larger package of critical, lifesaving supplies and equipment that IOM will be delivering to support the ever-resilient Indonesian people, migrants and refugees in the country," IOM Chief of Mission Louis Hoffmann said in the same statement.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-receives-760000-worth-of-medical-equipment-from-undp-who-iom