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Australia pours out $4.2 million in aid for Indonesia’s COVID-19 response through WHO
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Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (left) and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison talk during a document-signing event at Parliament House, Canberra, on Feb. 10. (Bloomberg/Mark Graham)
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ustralia is set to disburse aid totaling AU$6.2 million (US$4.2 million) to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support Indonesia’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
According to a joint statement by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and WHO Indonesia, the funds are to “strengthen Indonesia’s laboratories, improve the way Indonesia collects and uses health information and help to protect patients and health workers at health facilities”.
“As neighbors and long-term partners, Indonesia and Australia are well-positioned to overcome these challenges together,” Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Gary Quinlan said Tuesday.
“Supporting Indonesia’s immediate critical health security efforts, in partnership with the WHO, is fundamental to ensuring our region’s recovery.”
Read also: UN allots $2 million for Indonesia's COVID-19 response
WHO representative to Indonesia N. Paranietharan said that, over the next two years, his organization would continue to work with the Indonesian government to achieve improved national policies and procedures to better respond to public health emergencies.
“With the support from [Australia’s] Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the WHO will be able to ensure essential support is provided towards the preparedness of the health system, including enhancing the national surveillance and case detection system and strengthening infection prevention and control activities,” Paranietharan was quoted as saying in the statement.
Other countries and international organizations have also given aid to Indonesia for its COVID-19 response.
The UN announced last week that it would contribute $2 million to support Indonesia’s COVID-19 response under its COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Fund (COVID-19 MPTF).
Last month, New Zealand announced it would contribute NZ$5 million ($3 million) to Indonesia’s COVID-19 preparedness, response and recovery efforts through UNICEF Indonesia.
