Huawei helps Indonesians in virus battle

For many people in Indonesia keen to contain the spread of COVID-19, Huawei Indonesia has a lot to be thanked for.

Since the pandemic hit the archipelago nation early last year, Huawei Indonesia has offered support for telemedicine and equipping communications equipment in critical hot spots, including in about 600 hospitals.

As infections in the country steadily fall, the local arm of Huawei Technologies continues to play a big role in helping the country recover, said Yenty Joman, government affairs director of Huawei Indonesia.

"Toward the end of the year our schedule remained packed with various social contribution activities to support the Indonesian government's effort in speeding up the country's economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.

One of those activities has been a program to help the rural community of Papua to have a role in digital transformation.

Huawei's cloud solutions based on artificial intelligence to accelerate diagnosis of COVID-19 patients can be up to six times faster, with an accuracy rate of up to 93 percent, the Jakarta Globe said in a report on the internet.

During the pandemic, Huawei products have supported the effort to build emergency telecommunications infrastructure, providing a 4G LTE broadband network for outer regions.

Huawei Indonesia has also made donations to orphanages and mosques throughout the country during the pandemic. Recently it helped with the delivery of medical equipment.

Contribution recognized

Joman on Oct 7 received an award from the State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, an initiative of the outlet Republika Media Mandiri, in recognition of the company's work in providing telecommunications and electronic network services.

"For their service and commitment shown throughout the pandemic, Huawei deserves to be named the most inspiring company in encouraging resilience and recovery from the pandemic," Republika Editor-in-Chief Irfan Junaidi said.

Huawei set up its commercial operations in the country 21 years ago and now has 23 "experience stores "here, mostly in Java and Sumatra.

At a shop in the small town of Pati in Central Java, Soni Hendriawan sells mobile phones, tablets and laptops.

"I sell Lenovo, Samsung and Huawei products," he said. "Huawei is becoming more and more popular here, seemingly because its prices are more affordable to most buyers."

COVID-19 cases in Indonesia are now falling, three months after the country experienced its second wave of infections.

The Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, said the fall was partly due to the rise in the number of people having immunity to COVID-19. As such, the government has allowed offices, schools and public places to gradually reopen while observing health protocol rules.

By Thursday about 104 million people had had one vaccine shot and about 60.4 million had received a second. The government has said it aims to vaccinate 208 million of the country's 271 million people.

The author is a freelance journalist for China Daily.