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U.S. Defense Department aids delivery of ventilators to Indonesia

David Vergun, Department of Defense News

Ventilators are an important clinical component in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and Indonesia is among the latest Indo-Pacific countries to receive help obtaining them from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

“The Department of Defense is pleased to support the delivery of ventilators to our close partners in Indonesia,” said Reed Werner, deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia.

The U.S. government’s contribution of more than U.S. $12 million in COVID-19 assistance to Indonesia in addition to the 1,000 ventilators is testament to the strength of the nations’ relationship, Werner said, adding that DOD’s involvement reflects the many ways the countries’ militaries work together to advance shared interests.

“The United States, through the generosity of the American people and the innovation of American private industry, is providing access to brand-new, high-quality ventilators to countries that urgently need them to fight COVID-19,” said Stephanie L. Hammond, acting special assistant to the deputy assistant secretary of defense for stability and humanitarian affairs.

The DOD continues to play a key role in the global response to COVID-19, said Ezra Cohen, acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict. “From the beginning of this pandemic, the department was quick to support our allies and partners through the provision and transport of life-saving medical equipment and humanitarian aid,” he said. “We are now shifting our efforts to focus on sustainable preparedness and prevention activities. In addition to delivering ventilators to Indonesia, we are also helping set up isolation clinics and providing testing equipment and training to build public health capacity and to help prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases.”

Before the flight to Indonesia, Air Force Maj. Roger Gates, a 21st Airlift Squadron pilot at Travis Air Force Base in California who flew on the mission, said the Air Force was doing all it could to safely expedite the shipment of urgently needed ventilators. (Pictured: U.S. Air Force personnel inspect pallets loaded with American-made ventilators on a C-17 Globemaster III at Travis Air Force Base, California, before delivering them to Indonesia.)

“Each one of those machines has the possibility to save an individual’s life. These ventilators may end up saving many lives,” he said.

In concert with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. State Department, the DOD has provided more than U.S. $92 million in support to allies and partners for COVID-19 testing, lab diagnostic support, preventive infection control, personal protective equipment and the provision and transportation of humanitarian commodities.

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