TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD), one of the referral hospitals for treating Covid-19 patients, received one million face masks and one million gloves from the presidential staff office and PT Arista Latindo. The presidential chief of staff Moeldoko personally handed over the assistance to hospital representatives on Friday, March 27.

“As the chief of presidential staff office, I highly appreciate the hospital staffs who are working really hard [in handling coronavirus cases]. Even the doctors and nurses have become victims of this tragedy,” Moeldoko said in his speech, adding that this was only a small step taken by the government, and that they are doing the best they can. He said that the givernment will distribute the medical equipment to the hospitals in need.

“The doctors and nurses are heroes who sacrifice themselves for others,” he remarked.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Catholic Community Against Covid-19 (JKMC). Muliawan Margadana as JKMC coordinator appreciated the government's efforts in mitigating the coronavirus pandemic. “JKMC as the Indonesian Catholic hospital network would like to thank you and highly appreciate the Indonesian Government by handing out medical devices to 16 hospitals,” he said.

Muliawan asserted the people should work together against coronavirus as hospitals and the government cannot work alone. However, he is optimistic that every element of the society will get through these difficult times together.

JKMC, which consist of Catholic universities, hospitals, professionals, and Catholic organizations across Indonesia--supported by Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI) and presidential staff office, aims at supporting the government and the people in combatting the coronavirus pandemic.

The government, through the presidential staff office, also appreciated the hospitals' maximum efforts in treating Covid-19 patients. “We would like to thank you for helping the government in mitigating the coronavirus pandemic,” said Joanes Joko, an expert at the presidential staff office.

The numbers of Covid-19 confirmed cases and fatalities in Indonesia are increasing every day. Everyone in the country is advised to stay at home to help support the state's efforts in preventing the disease from spreading further.

LA