TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Association of Indonesian Economists (ISEI) has donated Rp530 million to charity foundations helping fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

"Our appreciation to ISEI for its concern in the fight against COVID-19," Nasyith Madjidi, chairman of Dompet Dhuafa Foundation, one of the foundations receiving the donation, said in a statement, here on Sunday.

Dompet Dhuafa has offered free services for those needing medical treatment due to the COVID-19 infection by readying eight hospitals, 21 medical clinics, 30 ambulances, five hearses, 200 zones of services, and 15 thousand volunteers.

The donation was handed over by ISEI Chairperson Pery Warjiyo via video conference to Dompet Dhuafa and other charity foundations on Saturday.

"We appreciate the medical workers who battle the COVID-19. We prioritize this donation for the medical team, personal protective equipment, and others," Pery Warjiyo, who is also the Governor of Bank Indonesia(BI), said.

Besides Dompet Dhuafa, ISEI also gave donation to the Association of Private Hospitals (ARSI) (Rp100 million), Muhammadiyah Hospital (Rp100 million), Bhayangkara Police Hospital (Rp50 million), South Bangka Hospital (Rp100 million), and Indonesia's Doctors Association (IDI) Bogor Branch (Rp50 million), among others.

Dompet Dhuafa (DD) has so far distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers in 50 hospitals in various regions, medical devices (Alkes), hygiene kits, rapid tests, distribution of basic food items, worship packages, disinfectant spraying, psychosocial services and others.

In addition, DD also prepared a field hospital and container hospital, and deploy a special response team for COVID-19 prevention.

ARSI Chairwoman Susi Suli stated that currently there are 1,800 private hospitals in Indonesia, or some 68 percent of the total hospitals existing in the country.

"We thank ISEI for the donation," she said.

ANTARA