With the funds of the Citi Foundation, the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) together with the Foundation of Citi Handlowy will help the Independent Public Healthcare Facility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration with Warmia and Mazury Oncology Centre in Olsztyn. The facility will be provided with personal protective equipment such as: FFP3 and FFP2 masks, protective visors, coats and protective suits, and also respirators.
The facility from Olsztyn will not be the only one to receive the equipment necessary to fight against COVID-19 - on September 3, equipment was also donated to one of the hospitals from Warsaw. 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.
During the ceremonial meeting with the representatives of the hospital, Maciej Żurawek, Head of CitiService Department, said:
"We are currently entering a difficult season - fall is approaching, and it is a time when the number of flu and COVID-19 infections will be higher. All these will probably entail a significant workload for the healthcare employees. We have to help them - they are on the front line fighting for our safety. I am very proud of the responsible activities of Citi in Olsztyn".
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 in Poland 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 in Poland introduced an initiative #SilentHeroes, under which, during the most stringent restrictions, 335 members of medical staff from Warsaw and Olsztyn received 8,300 meals. Today, within the #SilentHeroes campaign, volunteers raise funds for professional medical solutions supporting COVID-19 diagnostics, (among others video laryngoscopes). #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.
Several dozen computers were delivered to orphanages in Warsaw, Olsztyn, Brodnica and Olecko. Currently, Citi employees organize collections of school supplies to equip orphanages, educational care institutions and community centers.
