KARACHI: Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan has donated some Rs 19.7 million to charities in Pakistan as part of its Covid-19 assistance fund.
Standard Chartered Bank has further shared details on how the Bank is providing short-term relief to communities who have been impacted through COVID-19.
According to the Bank, it is providing Rs 19.7 million to support communities in need. The Bank will be enabling the set-up of modular High Dependency Units (HDUs) and free testing as well as providing rations to underserved communities and Personal Protective Equipment's (PPEs) to doctors and nurses.
This is in addition to the earlier commitment announced by the Bank of USD1 million to Red Cross and UNICEF programmes that are providing emergency relief to communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bank has donated Rs 10.2 million to Indus Hospital for the purchase and implementation of 6 Modular HDU Units. With a rise in the number COVID-19 cases, the province of Sindh is facing a shortage of medically equipped units.
All hospitals are running at almost full capacity, hospital rejection rates are rising and as the contagion continues to multiply. To support hospitals with capacity, HDU units contain 24 negative pressure air-conditioned modules. The Bank is providing six HDU units which include, generators, medical grade beds, a negative pressure regime, constant air circulation, oxygen supply manifolds, electricity, ante-room for doctors and restroom units.
In addition, the Bank has also given Rs 3 million to Indus Hospital to support free Covid 19 testing of 500 people.
The Bank has donated Rs 4.3 million Orange Tree Foundation to enable them to distribute more than 850 Rations to the underprivileged areas. The rations will be distributed to underserved communities which the bank supports through its community programmes Goal and the Standard Chartered Karachi United Community Football league. 50 rations will be distributed to Goal coaches and more than 800 rations will be given to the Coaches of Karachi United Football Club.
The Bank has donated Rs 2.2 million Patients Aid Foundation. This amount will be used to purchase more than 4500 Personal Protective Equipment's (PPEs). These will be used by doctors and Paramedics of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre.
Shazad Dada, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered, Pakistan, said that Standard Chartered Pakistan is proud to be able to contribute to these organizations that reach the most vulnerable people of our communities. By working with these organizations, we are able to support the delivery of rapid and effective emergency relief that aims to address some of the key challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020