VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Head of the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Overseas Cooperation Bureau, Acep Somantri (VOI/NUKE)

Jakarta (VOI News) - In dealing with the corona virus or Covid-19, members of the World Health Organization (WHO) need to cooperate to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 originating from Wuhan, China. Head of the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Overseas Cooperation Bureau, Acep Somantri, after speaking at the 'Diplomatic Forum' held by Voice of Indonesia at the Jusuf Ronodipuro Auditorium, RRI Jakarta, Wednesday (19/2) said that WHO member countries need to share information about the situation and positive cases in each country. According to Acep, the cooperation includes capacity building, especially for countries that do not yet have an adequate health system to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. He also said that Indonesia is a country that has a good health system and has been tested. He emphasized that the Ministry of Health officially answered the international doubts that Indonesia has adequate resources in coping with virus outbreaks, including the corona virus.

“There are a number of questions from the world, we do not know who is asking, who seems to doubt the capacity of our laboratory. But, the Ministry of Health has responded with the release and then we also invited reporters, WHO, and other countries that wanted to know how we work. They come to our laboratory at Balitbangkes (Research and Development Center for Health) on Jalan Percetakan Negara,” said Acep Somantri.

Furthermore, Acep Somantri said that the Indonesian Ministry of Health is also ready to provide assistance in the field of medical equipment and health experts to countries in need. In addition, Indonesia is currently also developing a new vaccine through Bio Farma, as a vaccine manufacturer in Indonesia. Previously, President Joko Widodo offered assistance to the Chinese government in dealing with the corona virus. (VOI/GUS)