US Universities Send 140 Additional Ventilators to RI

US Universities Send 140 Additional Ventilators to RI

Around 140 ventilators will be sent by the University of Rhode Island (URI), United States (US) to Indonesia to help the government cope with COVID-19 or the corona virus pandemic. Some of the ventilators will be sent specifically to Papua.

"At the moment we are still completing the final assembly for 140 ventilators to be sent to Indonesia, some of which are specifically sent to Papua, in the near future," said University of Rhode Island Chairman David M. Dooley.

At least, there are 100 teachers, staff, URI students, as well as a number of Indonesian students who have volunteered to help with the ventilator assembly process.

Dooley also explained, URI had previously sent a ventilator to the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes). The Ministry of Health this week has approved the use of ventilators from the university located in Kingston.

"Good news, the Indonesian Ministry of Health said that the ventilator (made by URI) fulfills all the specifications needed to treat COVID-19 patients," Dooley explained.

Two days after the Ministry of Health agreed, several ventilators made by URI were sent to Jayapura General Hospital, Papua.

URI itself took the initiative to build a movement called "VentilatorProject.Org", to produce breathing apparatus in the state of Rhode Island. This tool is very crucial for handling COVID-19, which generally attacks the respiratory tract.

This initiative also extends to other US states, especially those that still need a ventilator. Also to other countries through cooperation between universities and government.

URI also sent assistance to several countries such as the Bahamas, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Haiti, Nigeria, the Philippines and Timor Leste.