Indonesia Makes US$50mn Commitment for Pandemic Fund, Jokowi Says at G20 Summit
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15 November 2022 16:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said that the G20 Summit has delivered a commitment by its members—as well as non-members—to establish a Pandemic Fund. Jokowi said Indonesia has made a commitment of US$50 million.
"I invite all parties to contribute [to the fund collection]. Indonesia has committed US$50 million," Jokowi said in Apurva, Nusa Dua, Tuesday, November 15.
The collection of a pandemic reserve fund will serve as a catalyst for mobilizing other health funds coming from different sources. Earlier, the G20 Joint Finance and Health Ministers Meeting panel discussion identified that countries around the world will need more than US$10 billion per year to deal with pandemic threats in the future.
Jokowi said the G20 initiative needed to anticipate health threats that might strike again in the future. Although the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided and is showing recovery, Jokowi reminded all nations not to be off guard.
"The next health emergency can appear at any time. And by that time the world must be ready. Preparedness will save our lives and our economy. The G20 must take real and immediate steps," he remarked.
The amount collected for the pandemic fund has reached US$4 billion or around Rp62 trillion. That figure is expected to increase as some nations have pledged their commitments to contribute.
Countries that have stated their commitments are Australia, Canada, European Commission, France, Germany, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Singapore, United Kingdom, Spain, United States, United Arab Emirates, France, and Saudi Arabia.
Not just nations, philanthropist institutions are also taking part in donating to the pandemic fund, they are The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust. The funds will be used jointly to improve the system in addressing the health budget gap over the next five years.
Francisca Christy Rosana
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