House of Representatives Team, led by Chairperson of BKSAP Fadli Zon, hands over face masks, donated by the Vietnamese Parliament, to Universitas Indonesia Hospital, in Depok City, West Java Province, Friday (11/9/2020). Photo: Azka/Man

Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) of the Indonesian House of Representatives Fadli Zon distributed face masks donated by the Vietnamese Parliament as a symbol to create awareness about COVID-19 pandemic, the cases of which are still increasing until now. It is hoped that the Indonesian people will not consider COVID-19 as something trivial.

Zon made that statement when leading a team to hand over the face masks at Universitas Indonesia Hospital (RSUI), in Depok City, West Java, Friday (11/9/2020). Present in the handover ceremony were the President Director of RSUI dr. Astuti Giantini and its Board of Directors.

“These face masks, donation from, the Vietnamese Parliament through BKSAP are a symbol for us to remain vigilant on COVID-19, the cases of which are still continuing to rise until today. Do not consider it as something trivial and do not consider it as something usual or already over. We have to stay vigilant,” Zon said.

He went on to say that the House will continuously attempt to provide more personal protective equipment to RSUI, adding the hospital still urgently needs around 12,000 pieces of protective gear as previously mentioned by the RSUI president director.

“The RSUI president director’s hope for more donation of the protective gear will be forwarded to the COVID-19 task force,” said the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party politician. “Moreover, as a capital’s buffer zone, Depok’s need for protective gears has to be met to protect not only patients but also doctors and nurses.”

Meanwhile, the RSUI President Director Astuti Giantini M.D expressed her highest appreciation for the donation of face masks from the Vietnamese Parliament handed over by BKSAP. She revealed that recently the hospital had to cover enormous expense to meet the need for protective gear every month.

"As the President Director of RSUI, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to BKSAP for the handing over of the face masks donation. We find it very helpful. Moreover, recently we have to buy protective gear at our own expense that costs almost IDR 700-800 million per month. So once again, I thank you. I hope more future assistance will come to RSUI, "Giantini concluded. (pun / sf)