Singapore
Travel News
Sars fight: Singapore helps
Batam, Bintan
Issued: 29 July 2003
Medical facilities have been established in Bintan and Batam,
Indonesia to combat Sars should an outbreak there under the
cooperation of the Red Cross Societies of Singapore and Indonesia
as well as the local government.
The funds of $600,000 were raised
to buy equipment for medical facilities. While money was being
raised, local authorities in Bintan and Batam did their bit by
converting buildings in hospitals on each island into special Sars
wards. Both facilities have intensive care units and special rooms
to isolate probable and suspected Sars cases.
Plans to attach medical personnel
from the islands to Singapore hospitals for exchanging knowledge
and skills in the area of fighting and containing Sars are also
under way.
Although having avoided a Sars
outbreak, Indonesia's tourism sector has suffered in the past year
in the event of the Bali bombings in October, and subsequently
affected by the Iraq wars and Sars spread in the region this year.
Apart from business travelers,
Bintan and Batam are popular holiday destinations with
Singaporeans. There are about 5.2 million people traveling among
the three islands a year.
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