KUALA LUMPUR, 2 April 2020 – United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has contributed RM500,000 through The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) to MERCY Malaysia’s[1] COVID-19 Pandemic Fund. The fund was set up to provide healthcare workers in the country with adequate critical medical equipment needed to take care of patients and to protect front-liners who are working tirelessly during this COVID-19 outbreak.
UOB Malaysia’s contribution is part of an industry-wide relief effort under ABM to support MERCY Malaysia, a volunteer relief organisation that provides medical and humanitarian services.
Mr Wong Kim Choong, Chief Executive Officer, UOB Malaysia, said, “Among the most vulnerable members of our community are our healthcare workers who are providing critical care to others and helping to contain the spread of the virus. Through our donation to MERCY Malaysia’s COVID-19 Pandemic Fund, UOB Malaysia aims to help meet the need for more critical medical equipment needed to care for the growing number of patients affected by COVID-19. Our contribution will also help provide essential supplies for the safety of medical professionals and those on the frontline as they protect and save lives in the collective fight against the virus.”
The Bank’s contribution to ABM’s collective pool will help support the critical preparedness, readiness and response actions by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre. The fund will be used to provide critical medical equipment such as ventilators, powered air-purifying respirators and testing kits, as well as to create isolation space for patients’ treatment. In addition, it would also enable hospitals to enlist the help of additional volunteers to care for patients and to assist in health screening, as well as to provide food and essential supplies to doctors, volunteers and patients.
[1] a non-profit organisation focusing on providing medical relief, sustainable health related development and risk reduction activities for vulnerable communities in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
