Maybank donates RM14m to HKL and HTAR

 

Maybank has committed RM14 million to two major government hospitals to ensure adequate medical facilities and services to help strengthen Malaysia’s healthcare system in coping with the recent surge of Covid-19 patients.

The contribution, to be channelled via Mercy Malaysia’s Covid-19 Hospital Surge Capacity Support Programme, will see the deployment of equipment and personnel to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), in Klang, Selangor, beginning from the end of July.

Maybank chairperson Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said the programme will be carried out over 20 weeks via a three-pronged approach - through providing health equipment and supplies, mobilising human resources, as well as technical training including mental health and psychosocial support.

“It will increase intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity for Category 4 and 5 Covid-19 patients by six units in HTAR and 10 units in HKL, as well as an additional 200 Covid-19 patient beds at each of these two hospitals,” he said in a statement today.

The programme will also provide health workers and support staff totalling some 40 personnel for HTAR and 50 for HKL to serve at both their Covid-19 and non-Covid wards, thereby enabling outpatient departments to reopen and serve all patients.

Zamzamzairani said the initiative will also see more medical staff trained on the proper handling of Covid-19 cases as well as provide a range of ICU and non-ICU medical equipment, including for both the hospitals’ emergency departments.

Recognising the need to reduce the burnout rate and mental health challenges among frontline health workers, the programme will also provide mental health and psychosocial support services.

The services will be through health management mechanisms and deliver direct aid to reduce the burden faced by these workers and their family members.

Given the especially acute capacity challenges at HTAR, he said Maybank’s contribution will also see the setting up of a temporary field hospital there together with technical training for staff.

“Our hope is that by working together with the health authorities, Mercy Malaysia, and all Malaysians, the sustainability of our nation’s healthcare system will be assured, and our hospitals will be better equipped to face not only the current Covid-19 outbreak, but also other future unexpected pandemics,” he said.

Prior to this collaboration with Mercy Malaysia, the Maybank group contributed over RM20 million last year to support various Covid-19 relief efforts such as medical and personal protective equipment to hospitals, aid for the disadvantaged, washing stations for marginalised communities, and supplying essential kits to health facilities for infection prevention and control.

Meanwhile, Mercy Malaysia president Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus said the latest funding is a testament to the recognition and trust Maybank has in Mercy Malaysia as a non-profit organisation whereby a pre-emptive source of funding is key in delivering an emergency humanitarian response.

- Bernama