DHAKA, June 11, 2020 (BSS) – In continuation of its efforts towards combating COVID-19, Coca-Cola along with its partner CARE Bangladesh has provided personal protective equipment (PPE) for over 1,000 healthcare professionals.
This is a part of Coca-Cola’s commitment of Taka 11.5 crore to support the country’s ongoing efforts against COVID-19, a CARE Bangladesh press release said.
The PPE distribution function was held in Dhaka today in presence of officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
CARE Bangladesh with support of The Coca-Cola Foundation provided over 1000 PPE and other protective equipment to health facilities located in Dhaka, Cumilla and Gazipur.
CARE’s local implementing partners in this initiative are Social and Economic Enhancement Programme (SEEP) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM).
Director General of the DGHS Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad was present as the chief guest on the occasion.
He said, “During this time of pandemic, the private sector and the NGOs/CSOs need to come forward and join hands with the Government in this humanitarian war against Covid-19. I thank Coca-Cola Foundation and CARE Bangladesh for coming forward to support health facilities in the time of this crisis”.
A total of 1,000 PPE for doctors and nurses who are tending to COVID-19 patients, 835 fabricated PPE for frontline health workers, 1000 eye shields, 2600 N-95 face masks, 10,000 disposable hand gloves, 50 L sanitisers, 100 bottles of hand rub, 40 oxygen cylinders, 10,000 biohazard garbage bags and 12 thermal scanners were handed over on the occasion.
Ramesh Singh, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh said: “We are going through hard times in history. Communities across Bangladesh are in need of support. Our partnership with Coca cola has been instrumental to support communities as well as health facilities. We appreciate Government of Bangladesh for the leadership and we are joining hands with government efforts.”
“We are grateful to all health professionals for their commitments but we are also concerned about their safety. Through CARE Bangladesh various efforts, as of May 13th we have reached 1,723,958 population in different parts of Bangladesh. We urge humanitarian community, donors and private sectors to come together and put collective efforts,” he added.
Ajay Bathija, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bangladesh said: “We are humbled to collaborate with our partner CARE Bangladesh in providing support to the health and safety of the people who are in the frontline and need it the most during these times. We are hopeful that with collective efforts and resilience, we will be able to steer ourselves out of these testing times.”
Gazipur’s Civil Surgeon Dr Khairuzzaman recalled the recent support extended in Gazipur, one of many severely impacted areas by COVID-19.
“We received over 500 PPE at the beginning of crisis from CARE. However, the need of these equipment’s keeps growing with the increase in the number of COVID19 cases and it’s heartening to see CARE Bangladesh and The Coca-Cola Foundation come forward to lend a helping hand,” he said.
This is the second phase of the Coca-Cola Foundation and CARE Bangladesh’s ongoing relief program, to ensure immediate support to severely hit urban hotspots of Dhaka, Gazipur, Mymensingh and Comilla.
The beverage company is also committed to catering to the hydration needs of doctors, nurses, law enforcers, and other front line workers through beverage distribution.
Earlier in May, CARE Bangladesh with support from the Coca-Cola Foundation provided 10,220 urban households with a months’ worth of food packages, dignity kits for women and adolescent girls along with personal hygiene material such as facial masks, soaps, and detergent.
All these initiatives are part of Coca-Cola Bangladesh’s larger commitment to combat Covid-19. The relief program initiated by Coca-Cola aims at benefitting and positively impacting over 50 lakh lives across the country.