Dr. Sudibyo Markus, the head of Indonesia’s Muhammadiyah Organization, paid a recent official visit to Israel in order to establish cooperation between his organisation and Magen David Adom.

Dr Markus is the highest Indonesian official to visit Israel.

The Muhammadiyah Organization operates dozens of clinics, hospitals, orphanages schools and universities throughout Indonesia and has been recognised by the Indonesian government as well as by international organisations.

Dr. Markus was the guest of honour at the signing ceremony whereby an agreement was signed by the head of the Indonesian Rescue and Emergency Service, Professor Aryono Pusponegoro, the Chairman of Magen David Adom’s Board of Directors, Dr. Noam Ifrach, the Magen David Adom Director (MDA)-General Eli Bin and Dr. Markus.

The main points of the agreement concern sharing knowledge in emergency medical services and planning work protocols for the Indonesian health system to be implemented by Indonesian medical teams. The practical and managerial knowledge will be implemented by internationally-recognised MDA specialists. The Indonesians also agreed to share their experience in preparing for and responding to natural disasters.

This current agreement, the first of its kind, was the result of a relationship between MDA and the Indonesian Rescue and Emergency Organization that began approximately one year ago following attendance by Indonesian representatives at an MDA course in Israel.

_{(Issue Dec 08/Jan 09)}