In a symbolic gesture, two ambulances and 500 grocery packages were received by Akhmad Musyafak, head of the Agriculture Ministry general and procurement bureau. Meanwhile, the remaining 18 ambulances and 4,100 grocery packages will be donated to the central and regional governments, as well as foundation partners across Indonesia.

In a statement, Minamas Plantation director Yustinus L. Setyo Putro acknowledged the massive impact of COVID-19, which has widely affected Indonesians in terms of health care and at a socioeconomic level.

“Minamas Plantation hopes that our contribution will act as supporting medical equipment that can reach people in remote areas and as part of our long-term commitment toward the public. This pandemic is where we go hand-in-hand to support each other so as to create harmony, especially during these tough times,” he said.

Separately, Kasdi Subagyono, secretary-general of the Agriculture Ministry, welcomed Minamas Plantation’s initiative in support of the ministry’s own efforts at COVID-19 mitigation, noting that the effort would require close coordination and collaboration between the government and other stakeholders including the private sector.

“This donation is an example of Minamas Plantation’s commitment to providing a better life for those in need. We would like to thank them for their participation and support in helping us contain the pandemic, especially in caring for the welfare of the vulnerable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (GAPKI) chairman Joko Supriyono said that Minamas Plantation’s donation was a form of support as a GAPKI member.

“Since the start of the pandemic, GAPKI as an association, along with our members, has provided support in the form of medicine, medical equipment, soap and hand sanitizers, ambulances, as well as food through our members’ respective locations as well as through the Environment and Forestry Ministry,” he explained, adding that GAPKI and its members were currently donating food and groceries for the flood victims in West Kalimantan.

Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation CEO Jamartin Sihite said that the donation was very much welcomed by the foundation and locals around its rehabilitation center in Nyaru Menteng, Central Kalimantan.

“The support is in line with our one-health approach, where the healthier the people around our work area, the less the potential is for COVID-19 infection. This pandemic is something we must deal with together, so we must all work hand-in-hand to be able to live with it,” he said.

To date, Minamas Plantation through its business units has provided ample support to combat COVID-19 in seven provinces, mainly in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Including the most recent donation, it has donated 20 ambulances, 9,600 care packages containing food and personal protective equipment, 2,600 liters of ALIF cooking oil, as well as 1,000 cloth masks estimated to be worth a total of Rp 10 billion.

At the same time, Minamas Plantation has also conducted its own vaccination program, inoculating 5,000 recipients in stages since July 2021. It plans to vaccinate another 5,932 in the near future.

Along with its contributions toward the environment and community, Minamas Plantation’s CSR program also covers education, health care, youth development, sports and culture. It remains committed to improving community welfare and environmental preservation.

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