SEVERAL government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies have banded together to donate RM95.4 million to buy medical equipment and other supplies needed in the fight against Covid-19.

The money was channelled to the GLC/GLIC Disaster Response Network (GDRN), which made the purchases, it said in a statement today.

Of the amount, RM79.8 million was given to the Health Ministry to buy medical equipment, such as ventilators, patient and blood pressure monitors, oral and infrared thermometers, stethoscopes and personal protective equipment (PPE), for 55 hospitals and 19 health centres nationwide.

The remaining RM15.6 million is for non-medical humanitarian aid.

GDRN said its member organisations directly purchased RM52.3 million worth of medical supplies, while Pharmaniaga Bhd bought equipment worth RM27.5 million.

Pharmaniaga also coordinated the procurement, warehousing and distribution of these supplies to hospitals across the country.

GDRN contributed towards food, water, personal hygiene items, cash vouchers, PPE, logistics support, and volunteer mobilisation via civil groups and communities for the B40, vulnerable and marginalised communities, said the statement.

More than 5,400 children, poor families, and students locked down at nine universities are the target of the support.

Some 8,270 students and 352 frontliners, as well as pregnant refugee mothers, will receive assistance ranging from breaking-of-fast meals to “baby care baskets” and delivery costs at hospitals.

“We are coordinating requests from communities, especially during Ramadan, to ensure no one goes hungry, and at the same time, reduce overlaps and food wastage,” said Yayasan Hasanah managing director Shahira Ahmed Bazari, who also acts as GDRN secretariat. – April 28, 2020.