NTB donates 4,500 medical scrub suits to healthcare workers
View(s):The Nations Trust Bank (NTB) recently donated 4,500 medical scrub suits to frontline healthcare workers. The donation was handed over by NTB CEO Priyantha Talwatte, to Director General of Health, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, in Colombo on April 11.
Earlier the NTB CSR team had approached officials of the Department of Health and Indigenous Medical Services led by Dr. Jasinghe and Dr. Ananda Jayalal to understand the most pressing needs of the hour for the health services and healthcare personnel.
Following these discussions, the bank decided to manufacture medical scrub suits, with the full support and backing of the Health Ministry, to be distributed to all designated COVID-19 specialty hospitals for frontline health workers who put their health at risk for the benefit of all Sri Lankans.
“The Sri Lanka Navy supported the bank in this initiative, taking over the responsibility of tailoring the material to specification. The collaboration between the SL Navy and the bank was facilitated by Health Ministry officials, whose support bolstered the bank’s initiative. This has enabled the bank to channel the entire pledged donation of Rs. 5 million to purchase material from registered suppliers under the supervision of ministry officials, to produce 4,500 medical scrub suits for frontline healthcare workers,” the bank said in a media release.
Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Talwatte said, “Given the present context as we battle the global pandemic to secure our nation against the COVID-19 outbreak, we understand that it is our responsibility to support the frontline of the healthcare sector who is protecting the citizens of our nation, whilst risking their own safety and lives.”
This donation is the first of several initiatives planned by the bank in consultation with ministry officials to best support the fight against COVID-19. Bank officials are currently liaising with health officials to understand future requirements such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) etc and are ready to donate them based on available resources.