The Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) together with the Foundation of Citi Handlowy will equip hospitals in Warsaw and Olsztyn with specific aid owing to the funds collected by the Citi Foundation. The medical facilities in Poland will be provided with personal protective equipment such as: FFP3 and FFP2 masks, protective visors, coats and protective suits, and also respirators.
The equipment necessary to fight against COVID-19 will be supplied to the Central Teaching Hospital of University Clinical Center, Medical University of Warsaw (UCK WUM) and to the Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn. The equipment was selected with the help of the members of the PCPM Emergency Medical Team, who have been fighting the virus since the beginning of the pandemic, both in Poland and abroad.
"We would call medical personnel, especially during the pandemic, our Silent Heroes. I think that this term is very accurate as it perfectly describes the gigantic effort and commitment that working in the health care system currently entails. I am glad that we can recognize their work and support our heroes once again, since they deserve our respect and gratitude. It is a great thing to feel that during the times of huge uncertainty related to our health there are people around us we can rely on and who face the challenge such as the pandemic in a professional way. Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you very much for that!" said Sławomir S. Sikora, President of Citi Handlowy.
President of PCPM, Wojciech Wilk, PhD, emphasized the value of the cooperation between NGO and the private sector: Owing to the cooperation with the Foundation of Citi Handlowy, Polish hospitals will receive aid worth approx. PLN 300,000, including much needed respirators. We are happy we could establish cooperation on this project.
"All support, especially concerning the required medical equipment, is exceptionally valuable. The donation from the Foundation will allow us to better prepare for a possible new wave of the epidemic, therefore I would like to express my strong gratitude on behalf of the WUM academic community," says Professor Zbigniew Gaciong , Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw.
PCPM DURING THE PANDEMIC
Soon after the declaration of a global pandemic, the PCPM Emergency Medical Team provided Polish hospitals (Warsaw Children's Hospital and the Central Teaching Hospital of UCK WUM) with medical tents used during missions abroad. Hospital in Łańcut received necessary disinfectants from own resources of PCPM. A psychologist and psychotherapist from PCPM opened their telephone lines for healthcare professionals. A team of over one hundred specialists is engaged in providing aid to hospitals across Poland by working at their home medical facilities. As part of the PCPM Emergency Medical Team, one of the world's medical groups working at NGOs and certified by WHO, they went on a number of expert missions (Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, currently: Lebanon, Madagascar) related to the struggle with COVID-19. Today, as one of the most experienced Teams, they are getting prepared for upcoming missions.
CITI DURING THE PANDEMIC
Since the beginning of the pandemic, both Citi in Poland and PCPM have provided help where it was needed most. Already in March, Citi introduced an initiative #SilentHeroes, under which, during the most stringent restrictions, medical staff from Warsaw and Olsztyn received 8,300 meals. #CitiVolunteers made more than 1,100 re-usable face masks, which were then distributed among organizations caring for seniors, people with disabilities and the homeless. 54 computers were delivered to orphanages in Warsaw, Olsztyn, Brodnica and Olecko. At the bank itself, Citi launched a financial support initiative in response to COVID-19, aimed at supporting employees who were potentially most affected by the pandemic and the resulting crisis. The support was granted to over 1,300 people, representing around 40% of all employees, whose income is below PLN 6,500. Currently, volunteers at the Bank and Citi are organizing collections of school supplies to equip orphanages, educational care institutions and community centers. We are watching the situation and taking action, and we see that #SilentHeroes are the ones who need the most support while helping all of us every day. To continue with the support, our collection is still open, available on the website zmieniajnalepsze.pl, adds President Sikora.
