PMI may stop ambulance operation

PMI may stop ambulance operation

JAKARTA: The Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)
has warned it may be forced to stop its ambulance service and
blood donor service due to lack of funds.

Jakarta PMI head Uga Wiranto, said that PMI was facing
financial problems, and if it failed to receive additional
donations from sponsors, it would stop the ambulance service, and
even blood transfusion service, beritajakarta.com reported.

"I am afraid the ambulance may break down due to engine
trouble while bringing a patient to the hospital," said Uga, who
is the wife of former military chief Wiranto.

PMI has five ambulances, made between 1987 and 1993.

Poppy S. Petra, who is in charge of fund-raising at PMI
Central Jakarta, said that last year, only Rp 554 million
(US$50,500) was collected from a target of Rp 575 million, while
in 2000, PMI collected Rp 466 million.

PMI claimed it could not do much for flood victims due to
financial constraints and lack of facilities.

In its Central Jakarta office, for example, many cooking
utensils that were needed to open a public kitchen were damaged.
--JP