LocationsCollaboration between UNDP Indonesia and Croda Foundation Boosts Healthcare Access in West Java
November 27, 2023
The ceremony of the 13 ventilators handover to the hospital of RSUD Cianjur in West Java Province.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across Indonesia lacked the ventilators needed to treat patients experiencing respiratory issues. Infection or other causes, including Covid-19, has worsened communities' health and wellbeing. A study in 2021 showed a death rate between 43 to 64 percent due to the limited access to ventilators for approximately 57,429 COVID-19 patients.
As Indonesia's most populous province, West Java faces an acute shortage of ventilators, critical medical devices that support the breathing of patients with respiratory complications. This scarcity has dire consequences for the province's healthcare system. The inability to provide adequate respiratory care has resulted in countless preventable deaths, exacerbating the already strained healthcare system.
UNDP has partnered with the Croda Foundation to equip hospitals in West Java with 13 ventilators equipped with additional neonatal breathing circuits, not only as the COVID-19 response but also for a more resilient healthcare system.
The regional hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah, RSUD) Sayang in Cianjur, West Java province, hosted the handover ceremony of the 13 ventilators on September 21st, 2023. The Executive Director of Croda Foundation, Rommel Moseley, and the President Director of PT Croda Indonesia, Erwin Harun, and representatives from UNDP's HEART Project Technical Expert, Vidia Darmawan, witnessed the ceremony with West Java Government Officials.
Rommel Moseley emphasized the far-reaching impact of this partnership. He stated, "This initiative has bestowed 13 vital ventilators upon public hospitals across the province, laying the foundations for an overall strengthened health system in Indonesia that is high-quality, accessible, and resilient."
The ventilator installed in one of the hospital rooms
This collaborative effort between UNDP and the Croda Foundation emerged as a robust response to the ventilator shortage in West Java. The 13 ventilators, now equipped with additional neonatal breathing circuits, have transcended an immediate role in the COVID-19 response, serving as the cornerstone for a more resilient healthcare system.
The use of the ventilators casts a hopeful glow on the lives of an estimated 105,000 patients. The impact reaches 52,500 men and 52,500 women, helping 15% of COVID-19 patients struggling with breathing difficulties in West Java. Beyond the pandemic's grasp, these versatile ventilators will enhance the overall management of patients, both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 alike. Through this initiative, hospitals provide valuable data on ventilator utilization in three to six months post-training for future research needs.
The West Java Provincial Government Office's Representative, Anne Adnan, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable contribution of the Croda Foundation and UNDP Indonesia. She mentioned, "In a province with a population of 50 million, plagued by persistent equipment shortages, the contribution is a pivotal stride toward expanding access to affordable, quality, and sustainable healthcare."
Echoing the sentiments, Dr. Raden Vini Adiani Dewi, the Head of the West Java Provincial Health Office, also emphasized, "The urgent need for life-saving equipment and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Provincial Government Office for the unwavering commitment of UNDP and the Croda Foundation in enhancing healthcare access."
The addition of neonatal breathing circuits to all 13 ventilators will support significant newborn mortality reduction within 24 hours, and an enhancement in newborn ventilation skills heralds the potential for even more positive outcomes. Dr. Irvan Nur Fauzy, the Director of RSUD Cianjur, conveyed thanks on behalf of the community. The use of the ventilators benefits the people, improves health services, and saves lives.
UNDP Indonesia and the Ministry of Health have been working together in a long-term partnership on health governance to narrow health development gaps and meet SDG commitments. UNDP supports strengthening Indonesia’s health system capacity through policy advocacy, evidence-based generation intervention, technical assistance, and partnerships adoptions of information technology under the HEART project. The project contributes to the emergency efforts of COVID-19 through the procurement of medical equipment and the development of an Electronic System for Immunization Logistics Recording (SMILE) that has recorded more than 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Written by Jane Tampubolon
Edited by Maya Tamara and Enggi Dewanti