VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, met with WHO Director General Tedros A. Ghebreyesus at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday, to hold talks on approaches to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and health security.

In a press statement released on Thursday, Prabowo noted that Indonesia lauded the WHO for development of the COVID-19 Partners Platform as a means of facilitating coordination among countries and partners to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the issues raised at the meeting was Indonesia's capacity building measures to strengthen health security in the country.

The issue holds importance especially for the Defense Ministry and defense resources to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to support Indonesia's preparedness for health emergencies in future, Subianto stated.

To bolster its preparedness for health challenges in future, Indonesia plans on building a provincial-level center of excellence in the field of health security, the minister noted.

The initiative will boost Indonesia's capacity to identify and face future health challenges at the provincial level.

"This will also strengthen the capacity of 110 military hospitals to handle COVID-19 and ensure the availability of basic health services during the pandemic," the minister affirmed.

WHO Director General Tedros A. Ghebreyesus warmly hailed the initiative and echoed the world body's willingness to support and facilitate Indonesia's efforts to strengthen the preparedness of national capacity to face health emergencies.

This encompasses support for the use of health facilities and assets at the Defense Ministry and the National Defense Forces (TNI).

Ghebreyesus commended the Indonesian defense minister's visit focused on boosting cooperation in handling national, regional, and global health issues.

Indonesia drew praises particularly for its strong commitment in the agenda of civil-military collaboration in handling public health emergencies and natural disasters and other global agendas, such capacity building in the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear fields.

This aligns with the WHO’s approaches to ensure the involvement of all state and public elements in handling the pandemic. (Antaranews)